Rocket Ship Galileo by Heinlein, First Edition (31 results)

12Mo Softcover. Condition: Good. 1st. 187pp. Text is clean on unmarked, uncreased pages. Hinges are intact, textblock is square with pointed corners. Moderate overall shelf/timewear, coverwear, cover edge and cornerwear; foxing on inner covers, endpapers and textblock edges, page patina throughout, bookstore stamp on frontleaf.

Soft cover. Condition: Good / Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Issued Without DJ. Thomas W. Voter Illustrator. (illustrator). Ex-Library Copy. 212 pages. ** Goodreads; Three high school students formed the Galileo Club to share their interests in science and space exploration. But they never imagined they would team up with a nuclear physicist to construct and crew a rocket bound for the moon. And they never expected to gain some powerful enemies in the process. ** AI; It tells the story of three young space enthusiasts who, after World War II, are recruited by one of their uncles, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project, to refit a surplus mail rocket. Their goal is to reach the Moon, and the novel follows their adventures as they work towards this ambitious objective. This book was the first in Heinlein's successful series of juvenile science fiction novels, which were published by Scribner's and have inspired generations of readers and future scientists with their blend of technical detail and exciting narrative. >> This is a ex-library edition; Library envelope glued to interior front cover.; cover wear; wear to cover edges; spine slant;; rubbing to backcover; Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Book.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Heinlein, Robert A. ROCKET SHIP GALILEO New York, NY: Ace Books 1947 FIRST EDITION VG 187pp. 12mo. Cover does show shelf wear with light age toning., Edges are worn and lightly bumped with creasing on and along the spine. There is some water damage at the back along the edges and bottom corner. This water damage can be seen faintly in the margins of the back pages. Edges of textblock are dyed orange but have faded with time and slight water damage. Text is age toned but otherwise clean. Binding has loosened inside both the front and back covers but remains tight throughout the book. Overall book has lasted extremely well for its age and remains in very good condition.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing with Scribners "A" and Seal printed on the copyright page. This First Issue dustjacket has the publisher's $2.00 printed price present on the front flap with light wear to the spine. The book is bound in the publisher's blue cloth and is in excellent condition. The binding is tight with light wear to the boards. The pages are clean with some discoloration to the endpapers. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A lovely copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing SIGNED by Robert A. Heinlein on a laid in signature. A beautiful copy. This ORIGINAL dustjacket is vibrant in color with minor wear to the spine. The book is in excellent condition The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp. The pages are clean, with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A wonderful copy SIGNED by the author. We buy SIGNED Heinlein First Editions. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First edition of Heinlein's first published book. "A" and the Scribners seal on the copyright page. Price-clipped, and no other price sticker to the front flap. Near fine in a near fine jacket that has had a little professional restoration.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. FIRST. A NEAR FINE FIRST EDITION IN DUST JACKET. PRICE $2.00 ON DJ.

Hardcover. Condition: Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. Illustrated by Thomas W. Voter (illustrator). First Edition. Decorative black cloth binding rubbed at extremities; slightly cocked; spine ends & corners lightly frayed; old price in red-pencil on front free endpaper; bottom leaf edges soiled; paste-downs & endpapers toned, else a very tight & clean first edition. No dj. ; Nice black & white illustrations by Thomas W. Voter; "A" on copyright page.; 8vo; 212 pages.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Thomas W. Voter(Interior Artist) (illustrator). First Edition. Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein (First Edition) Bumping and rubbing to corners and spine ends with slight water staining to top corner of back end pages. Original black cloth with green lettering and rocket design. 212 pages. Features three teenagers who participate in a pioneering flight to the Moon. It was the first in the Heinlein juveniles, a long and successful series of science-fiction novels published by Scribner's. Heinlein originally envisioned the novel as the first of a series of books called "Young Rocket Engineers". BOOK.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. Illustrated by Voter, Thomas W. (illustrator). First Edition. Black cloth, 212 pp, 4 b/w full page illustrations, front board has the outline of a rocket in flight (in green) heading for the Moon in the upper right corner. First edition of Heinlein's first published book, with the Scribner's 'A' and seal on copyright page and 2 rear endpapers. 1/4" tear at top of spine, and another, nearly closed tear near the base. Spine slightly cocked, corners scuffed and bent in (especially the lower corners), minor edge wear with some rubbing and scuffing to boards. 'Science fiction' inked on front paste down, small spot on page 17/18, opposite the first illustration, otherwise text is clean and unmarked. Front end paper has this note, in ink: 'Donated to the University of Detroit High School Library on November 9, 1951 by ----------, a student." However, there are no markings, stamps, or writing anywhere else in the book. It appears unlikely this was ever in a circulating library. A long time science fiction classic of the first flight to the moon, this was one of Heinlein's novels written in the 40's and 50's to young adults. "They called themselves the Galileo Club - not a bad name for a group of space-minded young men who had high hopes of putting one of their homemade rocket ships in orbit. But it wasn't until they teamed up with Doc Cargraves that their impossible dream became an incredible reality. "Suddenly the three Earthbound youths and their mentor were hurtling through space, heading for the barren wasteland of the Moon. Or so they thought. They were totally unaware that the dark crater shadows concealed a threat beyond their wildest imaginings . . . a threat from which only a miracle could save them!"; 7¾" - 9¾" Tall.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good+ with no dust jacket. First Edition; First Printing. 212 pages; Width: 6" Height: 8.25". First edition of Heinlein's first published book, with the Scribner's "A" and seal on copyright page. Volume is bound in black cloth with stamped green lettering to spine and pictorial design on front cover depicting rocket in flight to distant planet. Book shows light external wear. Binding is firm. "10z 1.88" is stamped on front flyleaf. Pages are clean, without markings, and are not yellowed or brittle. Work contains full-page illustrations by Thomas W. Voter. ABOUT THE AUTHOR- Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers," he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre in his time. He set a standard for scientific and engineering plausibility, and helped to raise the genre's standards of literary quality. He was one of the first science fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered to be the "Big Three" of science fiction authors. A notable writer of science fiction short stories, Heinlein was one of a group of writers who came to prominence under the editorship of John W. Campbell, Jr. In his Astounding Science Fiction magazine-though Heinlein denied that Campbell influenced his writing to any great degree. Within the framework of his science fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices. Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. He won Hugo Awards for four of his novels; in addition, fifty years after publication, three of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"-awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined words that have become part of the English language, including "grok" and "waldo", and popularized the terms "TANSTAAFL" and space marine. He also described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel "Stranger In A Strange Land," though he never patented or built one. Several of Heinlein's works have been adapted for film and television. (Biographical information courtesy of Wikipedia).

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition, Illustrated Edition. Nice condition, early copy of Robert Heinlein's first book - "ROCKET SHIP GALILEO" with its original dust jacket. 1947 1st edition, presumed 2nd state (with "1947," the Scribner's seal, and no code on the copyright page, but lacking the "A" 1st printing designation); Charles Scribner's Sons; New York. The dust jacket is un-clipped with the original $2.50 price intact on the front flap. The book contains illustration by Thomas W. Voter; illustrated end papers. From the dust jacket: "A thrilling story of three boys who accompany a scientist on the first piloted rocket ship flight to the moon. The time is several years from now. The action is based on scientific fact, and much of it may come true before long. The illustrations have been carefully worked out under the author's supervision, and are as accurate as it is possible for 'projected' illustrations to be. Mr. Heinlein is in the top rank of science-fiction writers, and his unusual stories for adults have attracted much attention. This, his first book for boys, is even more fascinating than the stories of Jules Verne." Condition: Clean covers and spine; sharp corners. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. Nice interior - the text pages are clean and white and nearly appear unread with no notable issues found. There is an inscription written in pen dated 1957 at the top half of the front end paper. There is an old retail store label ("The Children's Shop" in Santa Barbara) affixed to the bottom-left corner of the rear pastedown. Overall the book is in Near Fine condition. The dust jacket is un-clipped with the original $2.50 price intact on the front flap; there is a tear at the top-left quadrant of the front cover that has been repaired on the back-side with clear tape; there are small pieces missing at the top edge of the back cover and at the top of the spine; small tears at the flap corners.overall the dust jacket is in Good- condition. (The jacket comes with a clear, protective sleeve - not shown.).

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. 1947. First printing. 212 pages. Scribners seal and "A" present. Black cloth boards. Green pictorial embossing of rocket on front board. Green title on spine. Endpapers pale yellow. Nice tight clean copy. Top edge a bit dusty. Some slight wear at the corners. Jacket is good with some slight loss at the spine and some corners. One 1/4" piece missing at spine near Scribners "S". Some chipping along upper and lower edges. Front flap has been price-clipped and publisher's stamp (2.50) has been added.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. 1st Edition. Probable 2Nd Printing. No Scribner A On Copyright Page. Book Is In Good Condition. Boards Have A Light Amount Of Shelf Wear/Rub, A Bit Bumped. Fore Edges Have A Moderate Amount Of Reading Wear. Interior Is Clean And Legible. Not Remaindered. Dust Jacket Is In Fair Condition. A Large Amount Of Chip And Crinkle Along The Edges. Missing The R From The Spine, Not Price Clipped. Dust Jacket Is Covered By Mylar Wrapper. Thanks And Enjoy. Book.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine -. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Scribner's A and seal are present. Jacket is fine but price clipped and not first state. Light wear to the bottom of the boards and through the cloth at one corner, lightly bumped rear corner and light ding to lower edge. Light wear top and bottom of the spine. The black of the boards is lightly irregular in hue.Edges of the page block are darkened by age. Some aging and toning of the endpapers caused mostly by the adhesive. All jackets in mylar wraps.

212 pp. Illustrated by Thomas Voter. 8vo, publisher's cloth in a probable first state (but price-clipped) dust jacket. First edition. 1948 ink gift inscription on front free endpaper; a few slight marks to cloth; a tight, sound copy in a jacket with some minor use at extremities.

Hardcover. First edition, first printing. This is the first edition, first printing of the first novel published by one of the twentieth century's pioneering and preeminent science fiction authors. First printing is confirmed by the Scribner's "A" on the copyright page. Later states of the first printing dust jacket are known to have the original, printed "$2.00" price clipped from the upper front flap and a replacement "$2.50" price ink-stamped thereon. This jacket is a presumed later state; the original "$2.00" price is clipped and there is an additional small rectangle clipped from the front flap between the title and author's name where, it seems plausible to assume, an ink-stamped "$2.50" price may also have been clipped by a later seller. The author's signature "Robert A. Heinlein" is included on a separate 5.375 x 2 inch (13.65 x 5.1 cm) piece of paper tipped onto the front free endpaper recto. Condition of the volume is very good, the jacket very good minus. The illustrated cloth binding is square, clean, and tight with only light shelf wear to extremities, minor wrinkling to the spine ends, and incidental scuffing to the otherwise clean and unfaded boards. The contents are notably clean, with only the mildest age-toning and no spotting. The untrimmed fore edges and the bottom edges are both unblemished. The top edges show just the slightest amount of shelf dust. Apart from the author's cut signature, the only previous ownership mark is the tiny, vintage sticker of a Lowell, Massachusetts bookseller affixed to the lower rear pastedown. The dust jacket is substantially complete. With the exception of the aforementioned price-clipping, fractional loss is confined to the spine head and flap fold corners. The spine is only mildly toned, retaining respectable pinkish hue. Light scuffing is primarily confined to a few extremities, the spine, and the front flap fold. The dust jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, archival cover.Beginning with this, his first published book, Heinlein spent his early career establishing what we now call the "young adult" market in science fiction. Heinlein's so-called "Juveniles" ran to a dozen novels published before 1959. Starting with Rocket Ship Galileo, Heinlein's early novels earned him the reputation, material security, and literary confidence to infuse his subsequent work with more complex and controversial cultural, political, and philosophical perspectives. However, not all of Heinlein's "Juveniles" were quite so juvenile, and the line of demarcation between Heinlein's more and less serious works blurs.As implausibly simple as the plot for Rocket Ship Galileo may seem a trio of teenage boys helping a scientist build an atomic rocket and pilot it to the moon even here there are the seeds of future Heinlein, including more than passing attention to actual science, as well subversive socio-political elements. Offering useful perspective on Heinlein's literary precocity, in the late 1940s, at the embryonic beginning of the space age, the story was originally considered "too far out" for publication. Rocket Ship Galileo became a basis for the 1950 film Destination Moon (with Heinlein contributing to the script), and the beginning of Heinlein's illustrious career as a defining novelist in the genre.Robert Anson Heinlein (1907-1988) was one of the "Big Three" mid-twentieth century "Golden Age" science fiction writers, along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. A prolific writer with a career spanning half a century, Heinlein published more than 30 novels, along with numerous short stories and collections. He was already an established and successful author in the genre when he won his first Hugo Award for Double Star in 1956. He would be recognized thus three more times for Starship Troopers in 1960, for Stranger in a Strange Land in 1961, and for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress in 1966. Fittingly, Heinlein's name accompanies his imagination into space; an asteroid and a crater on Mars are named after him.

Hardcover. First edition, first printing. This is a signed first edition, first printing of the first novel published by one of the twentieth century's pioneering and preeminent science fiction authors. The author signed "Robert A. Heinlein" immediately below his printed name on the title page. First printing is confirmed by the Scribner's "A" on the copyright page and the unclipped "$2.00" price on the upper front flap confirms first issue of the dust jacket. Condition of the volume is near fine, the jacket very good. The illustrated cloth binding is square, clean, and tight with nicely rounded spine and sharp corners. Shelf wear to extremities is trivial, including a few tiny dings to the edges and minor wrinkling to the spine ends. The contents are notably clean, with only the mildest age-toning, no spotting, and no previous owner marks apart from the author's signature. Even the page edges remain unblemished. The dust jacket is substantially complete, fractional loss confined to the upper joints and flap fold corners. The unfaded spine shows no color shift between it and the front face. We note light overall scuffing and a short, closed tear with associated wrinkling to the bottom edge of the front face. The dust jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, archival cover.Beginning with this, his first published book, Heinlein spent his early career establishing what we now call the "young adult" market in science fiction. Heinlein's so-called "Juveniles" ran to a dozen novels published before 1959. Starting with Rocket Ship Galileo, Heinlein's early novels earned him the reputation, material security, and literary confidence to infuse his subsequent work with more complex and controversial cultural, political, and philosophical perspectives. However, not all of Heinlein's "Juveniles" were quite so juvenile, and the line of demarcation between Heinlein's more and less serious works blurs.As implausibly simple as the plot for Rocket Ship Galileo may seem a trio of teenage boys helping a scientist build an atomic rocket and pilot it to the moon even here there are the seeds of future Heinlein, including more than passing attention to actual science, as well as subversive socio-political elements. Offering useful perspective on Heinlein's literary precocity, in the late 1940s, at the embryonic beginning of the space age, the story was originally considered "too far out" for publication. Rocket Ship Galileo became a basis for the 1950 film Destination Moon (with Heinlein contributing to the script), and the beginning of Heinlein's illustrious career as a defining novelist in the genre.Robert Anson Heinlein (1907-1988) was one of the "Big Three" mid-twentieth century "Golden Age" science fiction writers, along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. A prolific writer with a career spanning half a century, Heinlein published more than 30 novels, along with numerous short stories and collections. He was already an established and successful author in the genre when he won his first Hugo Award for Double Star in 1956. He would be recognized thus three more times for Starship Troopers in 1960, for Stranger in a Strange Land in 1961, and for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress in 1966. Noticeable in his early writing but particularly prevalent after Starship Troopers, Heinlein used his novels to provoke thought and limn his own perspectives about the role, limitations, and confining structures of society, the obligations of citizenship, and the prerogatives of freedom. Heinlein was lauded not just for individual stories, but also for weaving coherent speculative futures with themes and characters that spanned swathes of his writing over decades. Heinlein's "Future History" series was nominated for a Best All-Time Series Hugo Award in a very strong field in 1966, losing (along with fellow nominee The Lord of the Rings) to Asimov's Foundation series. Fittingly, Heinlein's name accompanies his imagination into space; an asteroid and a crater on Mars are named after him.

Octavo, cloth. First edition. The author's first book, preceded by a pamphlet printing a convention speech. The importance of this book cannot be overstated. It is the first published novel by a major, perhaps the most important, science fiction writer of postwar America. Heinlein began publishing SF in 1939 during the golden age of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION. After World War II, he expanded the market for SF genre material, publishing his fiction in upscale magazines of the period (THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, BOY'S LIFE, and others). In 1947 he introduced a generation of postwar young readers to this literary genre with the first of a series of juvenile novels which were published as hardcover books by the renowned mainstream publisher Charles Scribner's Sons, and later by G. P. Putnam. Their circulation was wide and they could be found in the children's section of most public libraries of the day. This title is ". the first U.S. juvenile SF novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field . it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to children's SF ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), pp. 554-7. "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest." - Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-515. George Pal's 1950 film Destination Moon is loosely based on this novel. Heinlein co-authored the screenplay and served as a technical advisor to the production, along with German rocket expert Hermann Oberth. Destination Moon, the first of Pal's many SF films, "has great historical importance: its commercial success initiated the SF film boom of the 1950s, after a decade that had contained almost no SF cinema at all. It has interest in hindsight, too, in the partial accuracy with which it anticipated the actual Moon landing of 1969. To this day, Destination Moon stands as a film obvious made by people who knew about science ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1993), p. 324. A fine copy in fine first state dust jacket ($2.00 price printed on front jacket flap) with very light wear at spine ends and upper front corner tip and mild internal tanning to spine panel and along flap folds. A very attractive copy. (#155549).

Octavo, cloth. First edition. Early signed inscription by Heinlein on front free endpaper: "For Dirce Archer / Sincerely / Robert A. Heinlein." Additionally signed in full by Heinlein on the title page. The author's first book, preceded by a pamphlet printing a convention speech. The importance of this book cannot be overstated. It is the first published novel by a major, perhaps the most important, science fiction writer of postwar America. Heinlein began publishing SF in 1939 during the golden age of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION. After World War II, he expanded the market for SF genre material, publishing his fiction in upscale magazines of the period (THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, BOY'S LIFE, and others). In 1947 he introduced a generation of postwar young readers to this literary genre with the first of a series of juvenile novels which were published as hardcover books by the renowned mainstream publisher Charles Scribner's Sons, and later by G. P. Putnam. Their circulation was wide and they could be found in the children's section of most public libraries of the day. This title is ". the first U.S. juvenile SF novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field . it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to children's SF ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), pp. 554-7. "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest." - Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-515. George Pal's 1950 film Destination Moon is loosely based on this novel. Heinlein co-authored the screenplay and served as a technical advisor to the production, along with German rocket expert Hermann Oberth. Destination Moon, the first of Pal's many SF films, "has great historical importance: its commercial success initiated the SF film boom of the 1950s, after a decade that had contained almost no SF cinema at all. It has interest in hindsight, too, in the partial accuracy with which it anticipated the actual Moon landing of 1969. To this day, Destination Moon stands as a film obvious made by people who knew about science ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1993), p. 324. A fine copy in bright, fine second state dust jacket ("$2.00 printed price clipped and publisher's increased "$2.50" price rubber-stamped on front flap) with a just a touch of rubbing to lower spine end. A stunning copy. (#136272).

Octavo, cloth. First edition. The author's first book, preceded by a pamphlet printing a convention speech. The importance of this book cannot be overstated. It is the first published novel by a major, perhaps the most important, science fiction writer of postwar America. Heinlein began publishing SF in 1939 during the golden age of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION. After World War II, he expanded the market for SF genre material, publishing his fiction in upscale magazines of the period (THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, BOY'S LIFE, and others). In 1947 he introduced a generation of postwar young readers to this literary genre with the first of a series of juvenile novels which were published as hardcover books by the renowned mainstream publisher Charles Scribner's Sons, and later by G. P. Putnam. Their circulation was wide and they could be found in the children's section of most public libraries of the day. This title is ". the first U.S. juvenile SF novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field . it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to children's SF ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), pp. 554-7. "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest." - Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-515. George Pal's 1950 film Destination Moon is loosely based on this novel. Heinlein co-authored the screenplay and served as a technical advisor to the production, along with German rocket expert Hermann Oberth. Destination Moon, the first of Pal's many SF films, "has great historical importance: its commercial success initiated the SF film boom of the 1950s, after a decade that had contained almost no SF cinema at all. It has interest in hindsight, too, in the partial accuracy with which it anticipated the actual Moon landing of 1969. To this day, Destination Moon stands as a film obvious made by people who knew about science ." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1993), p. 324. A fine copy in a fine first state dust jacket ($2.00 price printed on front jacket flap) with very light shelf wear along upper edge, touch of rubbing to flap folds, and tiny spot of rubbing on rear panel near spine fold. An attractive copy. (#129696).

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Charles Scribnerâs Sons, New York, 1947 First Edition, First impression, SignedÂA Fine condition book with a near fine dust jacket. Boldly SIGNED by Robert Heinlein in vibrant black ink on the title page âRobert Heinleinâ. ROCKET SHIP GALILEO was Heinleinâs first published novel, and a hallmark science fiction book described as follows: ROCKET SHIP GALILEO is âthe first US juvenile sf novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field . it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to childrenâs sf .â â" Clute and Nicholls (eds.), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1993), pp. 554-57. âA pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest.â â" Anatomy of Wonder (1995) 5-62. The book is in fine condition with clean black boards still maintaining their original sheen, and green titles to spine with a green rocket ship to front board. The book has sharp corners and no edgewear. The binding is very tight, and square. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no inscriptions and no book plates. The internal pages are clean, and flat with No marks, No bent pages, No foxing and no stains. Beautiful clean book internally appearing as unread. Boldly SIGNED by Robert Heinlein in vibrant black ink on the title page âRobert Heinleinâ. Please see detailed images. The original unrestored dust jacket is in near fine condition with but a few very tiny nicks, and some sunning to the spine. The dust jacket has strong bright vibrant colors and is not price clipped showing the price of $2.00 on the inside flap. Please see multiple images. An extremely scarce title to find signed, and more scarce in this condition. Presents well on the shelf! Per L.W. Curry: The importance of this book cannot be overstated. It is the first published novel by a major, perhaps the most important, science fiction writer of postwar America. Heinlein began publishing SF in 1939 during the golden age of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION. After World War II, he expanded the market for SF genre material, publishing his fiction in upscale magazines of the period (THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, BOYâS LIFE, and others). In 1947 he introduced a generation of postwar young readers to this literary genre with the first of a series of juvenile novels which were published as hardcover books by the renowned mainstream publisher Charles Scribnerâs Sons, and later by G. P. Putnam. Their circulation was wide and they could be found in the childrenâs section of most public libraries of the day. This title is â⦠the first U.S. juvenile SF novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field ⦠it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to childrenâs SF â¦â â" Clute and Nicholls (eds). The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), pp. 554-7. âA pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest.â â" Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-515. ÂADDITIONAL IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our store for additional landmark SciFi titles.

First edition. Octavo, illustrated by Thomas Voter, cloth. The importance of this book cannot be overstated, as it is the first published novel (in book form), by one of the major, if not the most, important science fiction writer of post-war America. Heinlein established himself in the field of science fiction during the golden age of Astounding Science Fiction (starting in 1939), he would later introduce a generation of baby boomer children to this literary genre. After World War II, Heinlein's career expanded the reach of the genre by being published in the 'slick' magazines of the period (Saturday Evening Post and others) and he also began a series of juvenile novels to be published by the mainstream firm of Charles Scribner's Sons. Their reach was wide, especially into the library marketplace were many young children would encounter them. This title is ".the first US juvenile sf novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field", ".it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to children's SF." - Clute and Nicholls: The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), p. 554-557. "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest." - Anatomy of Wonder (1995) 5-62. George Pal's 1950 film Destination Moon is loosely based on ROCKET SHIP GALILEO. Heinlein co-authored the screenplay and served as a technical advisor to the production, along with German rocket expert Hermann Oberth. Destination Moon, the first of Pal's many sf films, "has great historical importance: its commercial success initiated the sf film boom of the 1950s, after a decade that had contained almost no sf cinema at all. It has interest in hindsight, too, in the partial accuracy with which it anticipated the actual Moon landing of 1969. To this day, Destination Moon stands as a film obvious made by people who knew about science." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1994), p. 324. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket with a printed price of $2.00, very slight shelf wear along upper edge, touch of rubbing to flap folds, tiny rub spot to rear panel at spine edge. An attractive copy of this important book. (12943).

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Charles Scribnerâs Sons, New York, 1947 First Edition, First impressionÂBeautiful book with the original first printing dust jacket. Boldly SIGNED by Robert Heinlein in vibrant blue ink on a cut signature adhered to the half title page. ROCKET SHIP GALILEO was Heinleinâs first published novel, and a hallmark science fiction book described as follows: ROCKET SHIP GALILEO is âthe first US juvenile sf novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field . it was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to childrenâs sf .â â" Clute and Nicholls (eds.), The Science Fiction Encyclopedia (1993), pp. 554-57. âA pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest.â â" Anatomy of Wonder (1995) 5-62. The book is in great condition with black boards, and green titles to spine with a green rocket ship to front board. The book is signed in vibrant blue ink by Robert Heinlein on a signature cut which is laid and adhered to the half title page. The boards are clean with slightly rounded corners and no edgewear. The binding is tight and square. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no inscriptions and no book plates. The internal pages are clean, and flat with No marks, No bent pages, No foxing and no stains. Beautiful clean book with several fun illustrations. Please see detailed images. The original price clipped dust jacket has benefited from some restoration and presents beautifully with a faint spot of rubbing to the front flap crease. The dust jacket has strong bright vibrant colors with No edgewear, No rips, No chips, No stains, No fading, No foxing and No rubbing. Please see multiple images. A handsome Science Fiction highlight classic, scarce signed. Presents well on the shelf! ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our store for other rare and signed SciFi titles.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. A very good first edition (with the Scribner's A and seal on the copyright page) in a near fine first issue dust jacket with the original price of $2.00 still present on the front flap. Some tanning from off-setting on the front free endpaper. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. Heinlein's 1st book (preceded by a convention speech publication). Scribners seal and A on the copyright page. 1st state DJ with $2.00 price present. Heinlein's signature is laid in.

Hardcover. First Edition. Black cloth with green decorations and titles on cover and spine. Slightly bruised spine ends and lower front tip, inscription on front free endpaper. A near fine copy in near fine dustjacket with four tiny tears along the edges and just a touch of shelf wear. An extremely attractive copy of the author's first book in dustjacket with clipped front flap and $2.50 price stamped. ; Octavo; 212 pages.

First edition. Octavo, cloth. This is the author's first book, preceded by a pamphlet printing a convention speech. "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest."- Anatomy of Wonder 5-62. Basis for the 1950 film Destination Moon in which Heinlein also contributed to the writing of the screenplay. This is a fine copy in a near fine later state dust jacket (printed price of $2.00 price clipped and publisher's increase price of $2.50 rubber stamped to upper front flap) which has mild shelf wear along lower edge and to spine ends, tiny chip to base of rear panel, mild darkening to spine panel. (10207).

Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First edition, first printing of the author's first published novel. Signed by Robert A. Heinlein on the title page. Bound in publisher's original black cloth stamped in green. Near Fine with light wear to spine ends, tiny spot to top of textblock edge and pages tanned. In a later state dust jacket which has been price clipped and over-stamped with a new price of $2.50, with toning and light wear, with a small repaired tear to the bottom of the rear flap fold.

Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. First edition, first printing. The dedication copy of the author's first published novel, signed and inscribed by Robert A. Heinlein in the year of publication "with best wishes to my nephew Lawrence Lewis 'Buddy' Heinlein [signed] Robert Heinlein Nov. 1947" with an arrow pointing to Buddy's printed name on the dedication page. Additionally signed by Lawrence Lewis Heinlein as "L. L. Heinlein" on the front free endpaper. Lawrence was the son of Robert's brother. Bound in publisher's original black cloth stamped in green. Very Good with light wear and light soiling to cloth, spine ends and corners lightly worn, bumping to corners throughout, toning to endsheets with a small check mark to the top of the front free endpaper, pages tanned and with sporadic imperfections mostly affecting the margins at the fore edge. In a Near Fine supplied first state dust jacket priced at $2.00 with light edge wear and two tape reinforcements made to the verso. An immensely important work of science fiction and milestone in the genre. It was the first in the Heinlein juveniles, a long and successful series of science fiction novels published by Scribner's, and introduced a new generation of post-war young readers to the genre of science fiction Anatomy of Wonder calls this "A pioneering novel that began American mainstream science fiction for children and combined young protagonists, gadgetry, current science, and adventure in such a way that even today the book retains interest." It was "the first U.S. juvenile SF novel to reflect the new levels of characterization, style and scientific plausibility now expected in the field. It was the first in a series that represents the most important contribution any single writer has made to children's SF." - Clute and Nicholls, The Science Fiction Encyclopedia.