Indispensable for identifying Oz books. ( )

Just a wonderful book in every way. I bought a copy sight unseen to try and help delineate between different points of different Oz books - the differing cover labels, cloth colors, whether they have plates or no plates, and so on. I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of quality information and detail provided by the book. While I had a reasonable working knowledge of the Oz books' printing history before, I now feel confident cataloging my collection - as well as looking at any new inclusions I may be about to acquire.

This is a highly recommended volume not just for the collector, but for anyone who enjoys old books - especially turn-of-the-century children's literature. Aside from the actual technical details, Bienvenue and Schmidt have contextualized every book or major series that they have included with a short essay. There are also countless small photographs of different printings, bindings, and so on. It's an extremely successful book on every level: not just as one to "use," but one to flip through and enjoy. ( )