L. Frank Baum. Queen Zixi of Ix, or the Story of the Magic Clock. With Illustrations by Frederick Richardson. New York: The Century Co., 1905.
First edition, second state, with some illustrations between pages 171-236 in turquoise and black. With a playful full-page inscription from Baum to his sister, Harriet Alvena on the half-title page. Octavo. [viii], 303 pages, with the half-title used as the front free endpaper in this copy. Sixteen inserted plates printed in three colors and numerous text illustrations by Frederick Richardson.
Exceptionally scarce presentation copy signed and inscribed by L. Frank Baum (1856–1919), beloved author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its celebrated series. Publisher's light green cloth printed in red and black. Significant wear to binding. Spine creased and worn at extremities. Corners exposed. Binding noticeably shaken. Front board and all preliminaries before the title page almost completely detached. Half title, where the inscription appears, has been attached to the front pastedown with white mending tape along the gutter, and reinforced along the fore-edge with same. Rear board two-thirds detached. Later gift inscription on the dedication leaf.
Text is largely very clean. A fragile copy, in fair condition, but with an outstanding inscription from the author to his sister. The long inscription from Baum reads: "'Still another!' you moan with / resignation. But I cannot help it. / The children encourage me to be / persistent, and this book represents so / many beefsteaks and calico shirts for / my hungry and needy offspring. / Don't read it. Take the tired reviewer's / word for it that it is 'all right' and put / it on the shelf with the other sad relics / of my industry which, alas!, have / all been eaten long ago. Literature / is a great profession, if you have a / large family. Only in this way / can I excuse myself for firing / these books at you with such / relentless(?) regularity. Forgive / me, and let us remain friends, / my sweet sister! / LFB / Mrs. Harriet Alvena Baum Neal / of modern(?) Syracuse."