About this Item
First UK edition, published in 1954 by Rupert Hart-Davis. The book was first published in hardback in the USA by Ballantine in 1953, preceded by a paperback edition which was published a month and half earlier. A shorter version of "Fahrenheit 451" originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine under the title 'The Fireman' in 1950, published by World Editions, Inc, New York. ***Very good in red cloth-covered boards with silver titles to the spine. The silver is still quite bright. The boards are a little darkened with age, and there are some stains on the cloth two on the front and one on the back board. There is a patch of fading on the spine where the dustwrapper has been creased and folded away for a period of time (please see scans). Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Corners quite sharp. Page block edges slightly darkened, with some foxing on the fore-edge. No reading lean and no reading creases to the spine. No tears to the cloth. Internally also very good with no inscriptions. Pages quite clean, but there are some sporadic foxing spots. No creases or tears. ***In a good only example of the original dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the publisher's printed price of 9s 6d net. Whilst the dustwrapper is largely complete, there is a sizeable chip at the top of the spine, with some loss to the lettering. There is also a small area of loss at the bottom of the spine, but not affecting the lettering. There is also quite a lot of splitting along the edges of the spine, and an area of creasing at the centre of the spine where the dustwrapper has been folded over at some point - this area is very fragile and brittle now. There is a scratch to the surface of the back panel near the spine, and some loss to the tips of the foldovers. Whilst the red colouring of the dustwrapper is somewhat darkened with age, it is still quite clean. The large dustwrapper flaps are clean and uncreased. ***204mm x 135mm. 158 pages.***'"Fahrenheit 451" is the temperature at which book-paper catches fire. Montag is a fireman, but in these future days of technocratic supremacy the fire-brigade is employed, not to extinguish fires, but to burn books and set fire to any house where books are found or reported. This terrifying fable, Ray Bradbury's first long story, is fired by the same poetical imagination as his short stories; and his implied indictment of certain aspects of to-day's man-made world, projected into the future, will cause many a gentle reader to catch his breath.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***'"Fahrenheit 451" was written by Bradbury during the Second Red Scare and the McCarthy era, inspired by the book burnings, inspired by the book burnings in Nazi Germany and by ideological repression in the Soviet Union. Bradbury's claimed motivation for writing the novel has changed multiple times. In a 1956 radio interview, Bradbury said that he wrote the book because of his concerns about the threat of burning books in the United States. In later years, he described the book as a commentary on how mass media reduces interest in reading literature. (Wiki) ***A first UK edition of this landmark title, in very good original condition, albeit with the above-mentioned faults to the book and dustwrapper. True first UK editions are now very hard to find in any condition, and this copy could benefit from some expert dustwrapper conservation, particularly to the fragile spine area. Being such a popular book from the outset, most copies seem to have been read to death, have lost their fragile dustwrappers, or have been consigned to library discards. Of interest to collectors of Ray Bradbury's work and classic science fiction titles. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 8777x
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Bibliographic Details
Title: FAHRENHEIT 451 (First UK edition in worn ...
Publisher: Rupert Hart-Davis, 36, Soho Square, London, W.1
Publication Date: 1954
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Good
Edition: First Edition
