The Death Rays of Ardilla, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition

£50.00

The Death Rays of Ardilla, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition

Name: The Death Rays of Ardilla, Captain W. E. Johns — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5334
Price: 50.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1959

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 192.

Condition Report: 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.

Catalogue Note: 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.

This 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 & Co., or the publisher. This designates it as an internal archive, work ticket, or review copy before eventually making its way into private ownership.

Captain 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.

The 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.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Captain W. E. Johns

Book Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 192

Book Publication Year: 1959

Book Publication Date: March 5, 1959

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Leslie Stead

Book Series: Professor Brane Space Series

Country/region of manufacture: Liverpool, United Kingdom

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.