Childhood's End.
London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1954. 8vo. First UK edition. First published by Ballantine Books in the USA in 1953. Original yellow hardcovers, printed in black on the spine. Jacket illustration from an oil painting by Deborah Jones. Ex libris bookplate of Arthur C. Clarke on the front pastedown inscribed, 'To Bert Lewis - another Golden Ager! all best Arthur 8 Oct 93'. The plate has a tear from the top edge to near the middle but has been stuck down firmly. A printing fault at pp.87-8 has resulted in the page edge extending beyond the rest of the block and has been folded back on itself. The text is unaffected. Contents clean and fresh. The unclipped d/w is very slightly rubbed at the extremities. Near fine in near fine d/w. Item #8565
Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is revered as one of the greatest of the Golden Age science fiction authors and Childhood's End, his third sci-fi novel, was one of his personal favourites and is generally considered to be his best book. A very attractive copy with the benefit of the inscribed bookplate.
Price: £1,100.00