The Royal Book of Oz

New York: Del Rey, 1985. First thus. Mass Paperback. Like New. Michael Herring, John R. Neill. First printing of this edition. Like new. Del Rey mass paperback, first printing June 1985 (stated), complete number line. ISBN: 9780345315847, 263 pages. Cover art by Michael Herring, interior art by John R. Neill. 12mo (4.25"" x 8"") Now reissued by the publisher in a large print on demand trade paperback with the same ISBN, this is the original tall mass paperback. Contains all the original black and white illustrations of John R. Neill, and maps of Oz and the surrounding countries courtesy of the International Wizard of Oz Club.15th in series, preceded by Glinda of Oz, and followed by Kabumpo in Oz and many others. This is the first Oz novel by Ruth Plumly Thompson, who was the second Royal Historian of Oz, and continued on to write another 19 novels. The Scarecrow, going on a quest to find his family tree, slides down a magic bean-pole and discovers he is actually the Emperor of the mysterious underground Silver Islands. When Dorothy discovers him missing, she sets out to find him, meeting the knight, Sir Hokus of Pokes, along the way. Although L. Frank Baum was first credited as the author, it was written entirely by Thompson and appears entirely under her name in recent editions.