Upcoming Auction of the Patrick McInally Collection

This image appears in the catalogue (PDF download) of Profiles in History’s auction of material from the Patrick McInally Collection of Children’s Literature, to be sold on Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009. It’s from MGM’s promotional material for the 1939 Wizard of Oz, telling potential business partners how they can exploit the property.

Among the other items for sale are a first edition of L. Frank Baum’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz, letters by Lewis Carroll, an unpublished dialogue by A. A. Milne, and more, up through first editions of The Princess Bride and the Harry Potter books signed by the authors.

My birthday is coming up, and I wouldn’t be averse to receiving John Tenniel’s pencil drawing of the sleeping Gryphon from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (estimated price $60-80,000). I’d even act surprised. I promise.