To My Readers

           Curiouslyenough,intheeventswhichhavetakenplaceinthelastfewyearsinour"greatoutsideworld,"wemayfindincidentssomarvelousandinspiringthatIcannothopetoequalthemwithstoriesofTheLandofOz.

           However,"TheMagicofOz"isreallymorestrangeandunusualthananythingIhavereadorheardaboutonoursideofTheGreatSandyDesertwhichshutsusofffromTheLandofOz,evenduringthepastexcitingyears,soIhopeitwillappealtoyourloveofnovelty.

           Alongandconfiningillnesshaspreventedmyansweringallthegoodletterssentme—unlessstampswereenclosed—butfromnowonIhopetobeabletogivepromptattentiontoeachandeveryletterwithwhichmyreadersfavorme.

           AssuringyouthatmyloveforyouhasneverfalteredandhopingtheOzBookswillcontinuetogiveyoupleasureaslongasIamabletowritethem,Iam

           Yoursaffectionately,

           L.FrankBaum,

           "RoyalHistorianofOz."

           "OZCOT"

           atHollywood

           inCalifornia

           1919