Fans of Antiques Roadshow and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz were in for a treat when one guest brought in a copy of L. Frank Baum’s book on the reality show. The book turned out to be very special once it was opened up. However, the guest ultimately refused to part ways with it.
Antiques Roadshow Took A Trip To Oz By Way Of Texas
Antiques Roadshow is an American remake of the British series of the same name. In the series, antique owners have items appraised by experts, often learning just how valuable a certain item really is.
During an episode filmed at the McNay Art Museum in Texas, a guest brought in a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He revealed his father purchased the book in the 1960s.
As noted by The Express U.S., the guest shared, “My dad actually purchased this back in the mid-1960s, I had the mailing envelope from Texian Press in Waco, Texas, I think they were book dealers, so it was in that mailing envelope and it was postmarked December 1965.”
“And I was only two-years-old, I don’t know how much he paid for it. My father passed away when I was 11, then the books went to my mother and I just remember growing up with them.”
However, while purchased in the ’60s, there was a special reason to believe the book was a valuable first edition. As it was noted, “What’s unique about this particular first edition is that it’s autographed by the illustrator who is W.W. Denslow. He also has an original piece of art inside the cover of this book.”
The inscription featured a familiar character, the Scarecrow, in one corner. In the opposite corner, a catlike character wearing a ringmaster’s outfit was depicted.
When the clip was uploaded to YouTube, some fans expected the cat-like character was Eureka, Dorothy’s pet cat from the books. However, when the character was introduced in the book, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, John R. Neill had taken over as the series’ illustrator.
A Gift From One Dorothy To Another
Expert Francis J Walgren appraised the item. He noted, “What Denslow has done is really quite extraordinary, because it really matches this printed illustration…you can see his style.”
It was also noted that the book was inscribed to Dorothy Rountree. As Walgreen noted, “This is not just a little casual signature. I looked up Rountree and what is interesting in this association, there was a Harrison Rountree who was Dorothy’s father and Harrison H. Rountree was a very wealthy, Chicago banker, investor.”
Noting that Harrison “helped Baum out” with “financial problems,” Walgreen commented that, “There is even a suggestion that the Dorothy character might have been named after Rountree’s daughter. So this could be the original Dorothy.”
However, it was acknowledged that there was some dispute over this. Dorothy could also have been named after a niece of Baum’s who passed away as a child.
It was also noted that the book appeared to be a Christmas present. Walgreen noted, on its own, the book could go for $20,000 to $30,000 at auction.
However Denslow’s inscription really increased its value. As Walgreen put it, “So I would say, safely, if we were an auction estimate, we put $60,000 to $80,000 estimate.”
That said, the guest admitted, “It’s not for sale,” having previously noted his father loved The Wizard of Oz. After a good laugh, Walgreen recommended, “I would insure it, it’s worth $100,000 insurance.”
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