From the Earth to the Moon Direct in 97 Hours 20 Minutes: and a Trip Round It.

VERNE, Jules.

Item Number: 128637

London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle, 1873.

First English edition of Verne’s classic novel which preceded the first American edition by one year. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, illustrated with 196 plates including tissue-guarded frontispiece. Publisher’s presentation copy, inscribed by Sampson Low to his granddaughter on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “Dec 12 1873 Sampson Low with Grand Papa and Grand Mama’s affectionate love.” In near fine condition with only light rubbing to the extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An excellent copy of this very scarce book with exceptional provenance.

Jules Verne is widely held as “one of the two founding fathers of science fiction—the other being H.G. Wells” (Clute & Nicholls, 1275). Written almost a century before the flights of the astronauts, Jules Verne's prophetic novel of man's race to the stars is a classic adventure tale enlivened by broad satire and scientific acumen. From the Earth to the Moon is “the first interplanetary novel to focus on the technical and organizational preparations for the voyage, using the actual blast-off as a climax, introducing thereby a new narrative realism… And a Trip Around It continues the story by describing the experiences of the intrepid voyagers as they observe the Moon en passant before a slingshot effect hurls them earthward again. The couplet is one of the definitive foundation stones of the science fiction genre” (Barron:II:1180).