{"product_id":"the-death-rays-of-ardilla-captain-w-e-johns-1st-edition","title":"The Death Rays of Ardilla, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication\u003c\/strong\u003e: London, Hodder \u0026amp; Stoughton, 1959\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormatting\u003c\/strong\u003e: 8vo, pp. 192.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e: Very Good. The publisher’s original red cloth binding remains impressively tight and structurally sound, showing only minor bumping to the spine ends and a trace of rubbing to the extreme corners. The distinctive black tooling and lettering to the spine and front board remain exceptionally sharp and unoxidised, avoiding the rubbing typical of this edition. Internally, the text block is bright and securely bound with no loose or missing leaves, though the page block edges exhibit some mild, age-appropriate tanning. A neat, standard previous owner's ink inscription is present to the front free endpaper, alongside a printed printer's 'File Copy' label pasted to the rear pastedown. Lacks the original dust jacket, but overall presents as a very clean, well-preserved copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e: First edition, first printing. Illustrated with a colour frontispiece and further internal plates by Leslie Stead. This particular copy is the true first edition bound in the original red cloth, not to be confused with later issues or Book Club editions bound in laminated pictorial boards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis copy holds intriguing provenance, bearing a printed 'File Copy' label (dated 22-1-59, predating the official March 1959 publication) affixed by the printer, C. Tinling \u0026amp; Co., or the publisher. This designates it as an internal archive, work ticket, or review copy before eventually making its way into private ownership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaptain W. E. Johns's science fiction titles, particularly the Professor Brane 'Space' series, are increasingly sought-after in their true first editions. While copies occasionally surface, examples retaining such bright, unfaded cloth and unique production provenance are notably scarce on the open market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sixth instalment in Captain W. E. Johns’s gripping science fiction series follows the intrepid Professor Brane and his companions, Rex Clinton and Tiger Clinton, as they embark on another perilous journey through the cosmos. When their advanced spacecraft is drawn towards the enigmatic planet of Ardilla, they uncover a world gripped by strange, lethal energy fields and a civilisation on the brink of collapse. A thrilling mid-century space adventure blending scientific curiosity with pulse-pounding action.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54830953070931,"sku":"5334","price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260820_103511.jpg?v=1788343220","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-death-rays-of-ardilla-captain-w-e-johns-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}