MAGUIRE, Gregory. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Signed 25th Anniversary Signed Edition)

London: Headline Publishing Group, 2025. Octavo. pp. 495. Original publisher’s illustrated boards, spine lettered in purple and black, housed in the matching illustrated dust jacket. Signed by the author in black ink to the half-title page, with the publisher’s printed statement “Signed by the author” beneath. Retaining the original Blackwell’s signed-copy sticker to the rear panel. Publisher’s white illustrated boards, clean and sharp; spine square. A fine copy.

Wicked is Gregory Maguire’s landmark reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s Oz mythology, retelling the story from the perspective of Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch of the West. Since its publication, the novel has become a modern classic, spawning sequels (The Wicked Years quartet) and inspiring the globally successful Broadway musical.

This 25th Anniversary signed edition is particularly attractive to collectors, combining a bold new design with a clean, contemporary author signature. Signed hardback editions issued at anniversary milestones are increasingly sought after, especially in fine condition.

Signed copies of Wicked remain in steady demand, driven by the enduring popularity of the novel and its theatrical adaptations. While early signed first editions are scarce, publisher-issued signed anniversary hardbacks offer an accessible and highly displayable collectible, with consistent appeal to both literary and theatrical collectors.

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