The points of issue
First state has the George M. Hill imprint, 1900, with W.W. Denslow color plates. Key first-state points: on the copyright page a '1' present; eleven-line colophon; and textual states including the 'Chapter II' with a flat/curled plate. First binding in light green cloth with red lettering. The first-state title page reads 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. First issue has the blank verso on certain plates and the '1899' copyright with 1900 title page.
Is this the true first?
Geo. M. Hill 1900 is the true first; precise first-issue points are complex (multiple states identified by Bienvenue/Hanff bibliography, including plate states and the color of the imprint). The Bobbs-Merrill reissues (retitled 'The New Wizard of Oz', from 1903) are later editions.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Bobbs-Merrill and all later reprints carry different imprints and the 'New Wizard of Oz' title; any non-Hill imprint is a reprint. Exact first-state determination requires collating plate states per the standard bibliography.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First state has the George M. Hill imprint, 1900, with W.W. Denslow color plates. Key first-state points: on the copyright page a '1' present; eleven-line colophon; and textual states including the 'Chapter II' with a flat/curled plate. First binding in light green cloth with red lettering. The first-state title page reads 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. First issue has the blank verso on certain plates and the '1899' copyright with 1900 title page.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. Geo. M. Hill 1900 is the true first; precise first-issue points are complex (multiple states identified by Bienvenue/Hanff bibliography, including plate states and the color of the imprint). The Bobbs-Merrill reissues (retitled 'The New Wizard of Oz', from 1903) are later editions.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Bobbs-Merrill and all later reprints carry different imprints and the 'New Wizard of Oz' title; any non-Hill imprint is a reprint. Exact first-state determination requires collating plate states per the standard bibliography.
I have a first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.