The Man Who Sold the Moon: Harriman and the Escape from Earth to the Moon!

Chicago: Shasta Publishers, 1950. First edition of this classic work by the author of Stranger in a Strange Land. Octavo, original cloth, chronological chart on endpapers, with the publisher's printed label "Future History, 1951-2600 A.D." on the bottom of the front and rear free endpapers, as issued. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page and again signed in full on the title page, "From one Bob to another! R.A.H." Additionally inscribed by the publisher on the half-title page in the year of publication, "8/30/50 To Bob Cook- With the best wishes of the Publisher Melvin Korshak." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. (Currey p. 233; Anatomy of Wonder (1995) 3-89; Reginald 07048). An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed twice by Heinlein. A part of Heinlein's Future History and prequel to "Requiem", The Man Who Sold the Moon follows a series of events leading up to the fictional first Moon landing in 1978 and the schemes of Delos D. Harriman, a businessman who is determined to personally reach and control the Moon. Although the science fiction film Destination Moon is generally described as being based on Heinlein's novel Rocket Ship Galileo, the story in fact bears a much closer resemblance to The Man Who Sold the Moon. The novella also inspired David Bowie's song "The Man Who Sold the World", in both its title and its central themes.