Andromeda: A Space-Age Tale, Ivan Yefremov — 1st English Language Edition

£80.00

Andromeda: A Space-Age Tale, Ivan Yefremov — 1st English Language Edition

Name: Andromeda: A Space-Age Tale, Ivan Yefremov — 1st English Language Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5053
Price: 80.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Moscow, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1959

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 444.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original purple cloth binding remains structurally sound and tight, with the distinctive rose-gold and black stamping to the front board presenting exceptionally bright and unrubbed. Minor bumping is evident at the spine ends, alongside a faint touch of sunning to the extreme edges. Internally, the pages exhibit uniform, age-related toning, with some offset browning to the endpapers, but the text block remains remarkably clean and free from any significant blemishes, foxing, or internal markings. The original wrap-around dust jacket presents well but shows moderate signs of handling; there is notable rubbing and minor chipping to the extremities, particularly at the head and tail of the spine. A clear tape repair is visible along the top edge of the rear panel, and the front flap has been clipped at the bottom corner. Despite these flaws, the jacket's vibrant, iconic artwork remains largely intact, ensuring a handsome and evocative shelf presence.

Catalogue Report: This is the first English language edition of Yefremov's sweeping utopian epic, translated from the Russian by George Hanna and featuring the striking original dust jacket design by N. Grishin. Based on the bibliographic evidence, this specific copy represents a recognised variant printing that lacks both the "FIRST IMPRESSION" statement on the title page and the corresponding publication date note on the verso. This suggests it may have been produced for a distinct export market or as a slightly later state of the first edition.

Andromeda stands as a foundational text of Soviet-era speculative fiction. The novel is widely credited with popularising the genre within the Soviet bloc and is celebrated for predicting several future technologies, including space probes, ion thrusters, and powered exoskeletons. Complete copies retaining their evocative original dust wrappers have become increasingly uncommon in commerce, making well-preserved examples highly desirable for collectors of international science fiction.

Set in the distant future during the Era of the Great Circle, Andromeda presents a profound communist utopia where humanity has united with advanced civilisations across the galaxy. The narrative follows Captain Erg Noor and the crew of the spacecraft Tantra as they are dispatched to investigate a sudden, eerie radio silence from a nearby planet. Their perilous interstellar journey intertwines with the earthly struggles of Darr Veter, the director of the global space agency, exploring grand themes of cosmic exploration, scientific hubris, and the unrelenting human drive to conquer the vast, unknown universe.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Ivan Yefremov

Book Publisher: Foreign Languages Publishing House

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 444

Book Publication Year: 1959

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N. Grishin

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Moscow, Russia

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.