Welcome to my blog, featuring various pieces from my collection of Oz books, artwork and memorabilia!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

A Baum by any other name...

1906 was a busy year for L. Frank Baum. In addition to his major fantasy work of the year, John Dough and the Cherub, he published ten books written under various pseudonyms for a variety of audiences!

As Laura Bancroft, the six volume series of short Twinkle Tales - I'm showing Prince Mudturtle - which were later compiled into a single volume, Twinkle and Chubbins.

As Schuyler Staunton, Daughters of Destiny - a novel for adults, and the second title written under this name.

As Suzanne Metcalf, Annabel - aimed for the teen market.

As Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald, Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea - later reprinted as part of the Boy Fortune Hunters series, under the new pseudonym Floyd Akers - again, for the teen market.

And, as Edith Van Dyne, Aunt Jane's Nieces. The Aunt Jane books were nearly as popular as the Oz books and became another important series for Baum. The second title, Aunt Jane's Niece's Abroad, has a 1906 copyright but was published in 1907.

Aside from all this excitement, he and his wife also took an extended tour abroad - the first and only time Baum traveled overseas. That's quite a year!

5 comments:

Cindy said...

Maybe the 1906 trip was a reward to himself for all this work? What were the dates of his trip, do you know? Beautiful collection!!

Bill Campbell said...

I think the trip was from the end of January to the beginning of June, or thereabouts. Baum was working on manuscripts during his travels, but I don't know which specifically. Of course some of these 1906 titles could have been written in 1905...

ericshanower said...

I think the trip abroad was because the Baums found themselves wealthy after the success of the 1903 Broadway show. By 1906, the show had been going strong for a while and Maud likely felt they could spend the money on such a trip.

Bill Campbell said...

It certainly seems to have been a high point for them!

Bell-Snickle said...

Wow, what beautiful clean copies!