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Oz (series of book)

Last modified: 2006-01-21 by marc pasquin
Keywords: book | oz |
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The Land of Oz

[oz]
by António Martins-Tuválkin

Here is the flag of th mythical land of OZ. It is described in Chapter 5, Paragraph Two, "The Magic of OZ" by L. Frank Baum, 1919.
James J. Ferrigan III, 6 december 1998


The land of Oz is divided into four small countries: Munchkin Country to the east, Winkie Country to the west, Quadling Country to the south, and Gillikan Country to the north. The capital, the Emerald City, lies in the exact center of the country. These are all represented exactly on the flag.
Mason Kaye, 30 june 2004


Click here for a "real" map of the Land of Oz. Could we assume that plain flags in the indicated colors were used as "subnational" flags?
António Martins-Tuválkin, 30 june 2004


The flag above does not match the description in the book. Here's the actual public domain text (from the gutenberg project website):

The Magic of Oz (1919); Chapter 5. A Happy Corner of Oz:

"In the center of the Emerald City of Oz, the capital city of Ozma's dominions, is a vast and beautiful garden, surrounded by a wall inlaid with shining emeralds, and in the center of this garden stands Ozma's Royal Palace, the most splendid building ever constructed. From a hundred towers and domes floated the banners of Oz, which included the Ozmies, the Munchkins, the Gillikins, the Winkies and the Quadlings. The banner of the Munchkins is blue, that of the Winkies yellow; the Gillikin banner is purple, and the Quadling's banner is red. The colors of the Emerald City are of course green. Ozma's own banner has a green center, and is divided into four quarters. These quarters are colored blue, purple, yellow and red, indicating that she rules over all the countries of the Land of Oz."
The flag depicted above site matches this one for sale commercially.

However, the book's text does not mention the "O" and "Z" device in the middle. The colors are supposed to match the 4 quadrants of the land of Oz. So the proper placement would be purple on top, red on bottom, yellow on the left, and blue on the right. However, there is much discussion about this, a good primer is here
T. Mike, 22 february 2005


This does not contradicts our image, The "Oz" monogram is not mentioned, indeed, but the description is vague enough to allow it, according to whoever designed the commercially available flag.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 february 2005


Version of the flag from The Annotated Wizard of Oz

I have before me a copy of The Annotated Wizard of Oz There is a color illustration of the flag of Oz, taken from the book Glinda of Oz. In this version (divided per saltire) , the upper quadrant is dark blue, the lower red, the right yellow, and the left light blue. In the center is an eight-sided emerald, longer sides on the right and left, "graded" (I don't know the technical term) up to the flat top, which bears a white (outlined in black) intertwined "OZ"- the left side of the Z above the O, the right side of the O above the Z.
Nathan Lamm, 13 march 2005


Royal Flag of Oz

[oz]
by T. Mike, 23 february 2005

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908) Chapter. 17. The Nine Tiny Piglets

"After breakfast Ozma announced that she had ordered a holiday to be observed throughout the Emerald City, in honor of her visitors. The people had learned that their old Wizard had returned to them and all were anxious to see him again, for he had always been a rare favorite. So first there was to be a grand procession through the streets, after which the little old man was requested to perform some of his wizardries in the great Throne Room of the palace. In the afternoon there were to be games and races.

The procession was very imposing. First came the Imperial Cornet Band of Oz, dressed in emerald velvet uniforms with slashes of pea-green satin and buttons of immense cut emeralds. They played the National air called "The Oz Spangled Banner," and behind them were the standard bearers with the Royal flag. This flag was divided into four quarters, one being colored sky-blue, another pink, a third lavender and a fourth white. In the center was a large emerald-green star, and all over the four quarters were sewn spangles that glittered beautifully in the sunshine. The colors represented the four countries of Oz, and the green star the Emerald City."
Sounds hideous, doesn't it? My question is: Does "divided into four quarters" mean dividing the flag horizontally and vertically, or diagonally from corner to corner?
T. Mike, 22 february 2005


I'd say diagonal, to match the other flag, which is a stylized map.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 february 2005