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  • "See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories": First Edition of Fahrenheit 451; Signed by Ray Bradbury

    BRADBURY, RAY.

    Fahrenheit 451.

    New York: Ballantine Books 1953.

    First edition of one of the seminal works in the field of science fiction. Octavo, original red cloth. Illustrated by Joe Mugnaini. Boldly signed by Ray Bradbury on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with the spine still bright. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable in this condition.

     

     

    Price: $9,800.00     Item Number: 144194

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  • First Edition of The Martian Chronicles; Lengthily Inscribed by Ray Bradbury Two days before the day of publication

    BRADBURY, RAY.

    The Martian Chronicles.

    Garden City: Doubleday & Company 1950.

    First edition of the book that established Bradbury’s literary reputation. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author two days before the day of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Nancy with my best wishes and my hope that I can continue to entertain you! From Ray Bradbury May 2, 1950.” Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase. Rare and desirable signed two days before the day of publication; the earliest inscription we have seen.

    Price: $6,000.00     Item Number: 142665

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  • First Edition of Ray Bradbury's A Medicine for Melancholy; inscribed by him

    BRADBURY, RAY.

    A Medicine For Melancholy: Stories of Wonder and Delight.

    Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc 1959.

    First edition of this collection of twenty-two short stories by the author of Farenheit 451. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Ray Bradbury on the half-title page, “To Steve! Bless you! Ray Bradbury.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Ownership inscription. Jacket design by Joseph Mugniani.

    Price: $975.00     Item Number: 142915

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  • First edition of Ray Bradbury's The October Country; signed by him

    BRADBURY, RAY.

    The October Country.

    New York: Ballantine Books [1955].

    First edition of Bradbury’s classic collection of nineteen macabre short stories. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Joe Mugnaini. In Currey’s “B” binding in its first state, with the Ballantine Books monogram at spine foot printed upside down. One of three bindings, no priority determined. Currey p.57. Signed by the author on the title page, “Ray Bradbury 1/22/81.” Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Joe Mugnaini. Author photograph by Morris Dollens.

    Price: $975.00     Item Number: 142805

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  • "I am sorry but I think it's better that the creative process of writers continue to be a mystery": Rare Collection of Signed Author Questionnaires; completed and signed by Ray Bradbury, Norman Mailer, Shirley Jackson, and Rod Serling

    BRADBURY, RAY; NORMAN MAILER; SHIRLEY JACKSON; ROD SERLING.

    Ray Bradbury, Norman Mailer, Shirley Jackson, and Rod Serling Autograph Questionnaires.

    : .

    Rare collection of four mimeographed questionnaires sent by James A. Sherlock, a graduate student of City College of New York, to Ray Bradbury, Norman Mailer, Shirley Jackson, and Rod Serling, completed and signed by each. Eight pages, dated November, 1960, partially printed the questionnaire begins with a typed letter signed by James A. Sherlock politely requesting each author’s responses to several questions for “an original research project aimed at uncovering certain educational factors in the lives of successful writers” with the goal of “find[ing] out if the average successful writer considers his high school education in English a help or a hindrance in preparing him for his profession.” Questions include: “In your high school days, did you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction?”, “Did you favor one or two authors at this time in particular in your high school reading?”, “At approximately what age did you first seriously consider becoming a writer?”, and “In your opinion, how much did your high school English course contribute to your success as a writer?” Each author has completed and signed the questionnaire, Bradbury and Jackson have provided an additional typed paragraph at the conclusion. Bradbury has noted that his favorite authors during high school were “Edgar Allan Poe. Nathaniel Hawthorne”, that he preferred reading “Science-fiction novels, short stories”, that as a high school writer he consciously imitated the style of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and has left a lengthy typed paragraph at the conclusion of the questionnaire which reads in part, “Work habits should be impressed upon students, in high school. Only by writing and throwing away hundreds of stories can one learn to write… I did not go to college and do not feel it is necessary to do so to write… But high-school training if applied with zest and gusto, should throw the student out into the world ready to start writing… a story a week! No less than that! R.B.” Rather than complete the survey, Mailer has left a signed note, “Dear Mr. Sherlock – I am sorry but I think it’s better that the creative process of writers continue to be a mystery. Norman Mailer.” Shirley Jackson has noted that during high school she preferred reading “Novels, preferably fantasy or even fairy tales”, that she engaged in writing outside of school “Constantly. My mother has my first poem still. Singed ‘Shirley, aged six'” and has left a typed paragraph at the conclusion of the questionnaire which reads in part, “I left college at the end of my second year because I was bored and because I was kicked out, and decided that I would now enter seriously upon my career as a writer, a career I had determined upon — as I said — at the age of six.” Serling has noted that his “interest in people & problems” contributed more than his schooling to his success as a writer and that he first seriously considered becoming a writer at the age of 18. In near fine condition. Signed by all four authors. A rare and desirable collection offering unique insight into the education and influences of four of the formative American writers of the 20th century.

    Price: $8,800.00     Item Number: 123507

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  • First edition of Ray Bradbury's The Golden Apples of The Sun; Signed by him

    BRADBURY, RAY. DRAWINGS BY JOE MUGNAINI.

    The Golden Apples of The Sun.

    Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc 1953.

    First edition of Ray Bradbury’s fourth book. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Ray Bradbury in a contemporary hand on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. A very bright example.

    Price: $1,000.00     Item Number: 92794

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  • First Edition of Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man; Signed by Him

    BRADBURY, RAY.

    The Illustrated Man.

    Garden City: Doubleday & Company 1951.

    First edition of Bradbury’s third book. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Ray Bradbury on the title page. Near fine in a near fine bright dust jacket that shows none of the spine fading endemic to this title, name to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Syndney Butchkes. A very bright example.

    Price: $1,750.00     Item Number: 2520

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