New York: Doubleday, 1950
First edition. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “For / Bea - / with special / good wishes and / friendly thoughts - and, / again, my thanks to / you for your kind interest / in my work - / from / Ray Bradbury / June 6, 1950.” A just about very good copy. Bookseller’s ticket and the personal bookplate of the recipient, Beatrice Mahaffey, on the front pastedown. Uneven toning to the boards; spine extremities bumped and a bit worn, with amateur but effective repair to the cloth towards the crown. A sound, solid volume, with the contents clean throughout. In a very good to near fine first-issue dust jacket, supplied from another copy. The first milestone of Bradbury’s career and one of the most important works of mid-century science fiction. Inscribed in the year of publication, this is among the earliest and most significant presentation copies to come to market. Bea Mahaffey was an editor and legendary figure in early science fiction fandom. She first worked under Raymond Palmer at Clark Publications, where she became known for finding merit in unrecognized works. By 1950, she was co-editing Other Worlds alongside Palmer. It was at her encouragement that the magazine would publish Way in the Middle of the Air, the most challenged short story of the Martian Chronicles.