Dick Martin (artist)

Dickinson P. Martin (June 29, 1927 – February 14, 1990) was an artist from Chicago who illustrated a number of books related to The Oz books series, most notably, Merry Go Round in Oz (1963), the 40th and final title in the regular series, as well as many other children's books.

Information

He wrote and illustrated The Ozmapolitan of Oz, published in 1986. It and three previous Oz books published by the club were produced in an 8.5 x 11 format at his request so that he could draw fewer illustrations. The size format was unpopular with fans, and in 2006, they were reissued in a format closer to that of the other Oz books.

In addition to books, he designed greeting cards, post cards, and posters.

Some time during the 1960s, he designed new opening titles for His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz in which he incorrectly, according to Michael Patrick Hearn, proclaimed that L. Frank Baum was the director. These title cards appear on all current releases of the film, as the originals do not survive.

He was co-author of The Oz Scrapbook (1977) and was an active Oz fan, serving as The International Wizard of Oz Club as president, vice-president, director, and editor of its magazine, The Baum Bugle. He was well known for conducting the auctions at Oz Club conventions until his death. He left his entire Oz/L. Frank Baum collection to the Oz Club, to create an endowment.