A map of the marvelous Land of Oz

Mid-century map of the Marvelous Land of Oz

The Wonderful World of Oz, written by Frank L. Baum and published in 1900, first introduced audiences to the magical land visited by Dorothy and her dog, Toto. The geographic scope of Oz would gradually expand and become more clearly defined in subsequent works, with Baum’s 1914 map setting the cornerstone for all future cartographic expressions.

This detailed interpretation of the world of Oz first appeared as the endpapers of Who’s Who in Oz, written by John Snow and published by Reilly & Lee in 1954. According to a prominent Oz historian, this was a postcard version likely issued contemporaneously to promote the book’s release. Baum’s original world lies in the center, with the Emerald City (noted by a large star) surrounded by four quadrants containing Gillikin, Winkie, Quadlin, and Munchkin Countries. Beyond the four deserts (the ‘original’ boundaries) lie a variety of outlined kingdoms, but only a handful of defined geographic features and landmarks.