There are some truly charming and familiar images in our January 23 auction of 20th Century Illustration, and there are a few rarities, as well. One of these highly scarce items is Lot 51, a W.W. Denslow illustration from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The signed original pen and ink and pencil drawing of the Scarecrow and two Munchkins from 1900 was published as the first in-text illustration of the classic book's chapter 4.
The majority of the original Denslow drawings for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are preserved in the Print Collection of The New York Public Library. Only two other drawings for the iconic book have ever been sold at auction, one of Dorothy looking at the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East, the other half a double-page spread of the Cowardly Lion being saved by the Field Mice.
The majority of the original Denslow drawings for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are preserved in the Print Collection of The New York Public Library. Only two other drawings for the iconic book have ever been sold at auction, one of Dorothy looking at the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East, the other half a double-page spread of the Cowardly Lion being saved by the Field Mice.