In 1899 Lyman Frank Baum, already a playwright, machine oil-salesman, and newspaper owner, sent the first draft of a book called The Emerald City to Chicago publisher George M. Hill. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was

published in 1900, complete with illustrations by W. W. Denslow, who had worked with Baum on earlier projects. Conflicting reports show between 25,000 and 100,000 copies being sold during 1900-1901, but regardless, the book was considered a huge success, selling out its initial print run.

While Dorothy's adventure in Oz to find the Wizard is definitely the most popular and beloved of the Oz series, Frank Baum wrote 13 more books on Oz, all of which were illustrated by John R Neil. Many of these stories continue the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodsman.

In 1921, after Frank Baum's death, Baum's publishers decided to elect a new "Royal Historian of Oz". Ruth Blumly Thompson's first Oz book was the Royal Book of Oz. She would write 19 Oz books all together. John R. Neil would also illustrate these tales, and would eventually write 3 OZ stories himself, as well as re-illustrating the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. By 1963, when Hill Publishing decided to conclude the series, there were 40 Oz books in total. As for the first Wonderful Wizard of Oz book, it would be reprinted numerous times, and be illustrated by more than 40 artists over the years.

Interesting Fact : Several historians believe that Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz as a political statement oncurrent times. In his introduction, he clearly states that The Wizard of Oz is a work of fiction only, for theenjoyment of children. However, some critics believe he was making a tongue in cheek statement.Read more about the political Wizard of Oz.