Rockets Through Space 1936 P. E. Cleator Signed 1st Edition Starship Blue Origin
Ultra rare signed first US edition, hardback edition of Philip E. Long before the birth of Starship, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezzos and even before the founding of NASA in 1958, this little known British pioneer was afforded an esteemed place in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as one of histories Pioneers of Flight. His book is almost 90 years old, with provenance, and absolutely no doubt still the finest copy extant.
22cm x 15cm No ISBN. Condition is near fine, still bound extremely tight, appearing unread, and still in the original publishers dust jacket. Some light edge wear, rubbing, minor splits on dust jacket top, signs of foxing on rear jacket, see photographs.
Truly a breathtaking example, the best in exigent and reflective of the original scientist owner. Provenance from the collection of US author/geologist/volcanologist Eugene W. His bookplate included (see large photographs provided). A special first edition impossible to find in this condition signed by the author and with the original dust jacket, this 1936 US first printing "Speculates on the possibilities of space flight on the basis of the results of liquid-fuel rocket tests by the German and American rocket societies of the early 1930s".
From the collection of US author/geologist/volcanologist Eugene W. Blank (bookplate affixed) who published much of his work while at State College, Pennsylvania. Blank's article "A Brief History of Volcanology" was published in Rocks and Minerals 1931, a screenshot of this is provided amongst the book images.
The article is for interest only and is not part of the sale LOT. "This work is Great Britain's earliest book on space flight, written by the founder and first President of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) in 1933" (Pisano and Lewis).
The only good prewar book on astronautics (Interlibrum). Cleator founded the British Interplanetary Society in Liverpool in 1933 and is the oldest existing space advocacy organisation in the world, elevating Cleator to the status of icon in the subject of space travel long before the birth of Starship, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezzos or the founding of NASA in 1958 and affording Cleator an esteemed place in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as a Pioneer of Flight.
This edition also includes a number of illustrations which differ from those in the UK printing. Dust jacket still in good condition, see large photographs provided. A dust jacket is rarely found in any condition with this book, has some minor splits and shelf wear which can be seen in the photographs. Any import duty would be your responsibility to investigate and/or to pay where it to be relevant to you. For this reason I will reciprocate with your feedback if and when it is received.