Incredible signed book: From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne. Illustrated fourth edition. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Searle, 1875. Ornate hardcover with fully gilt textblock edges, 5.5 x 8, 323 pages (with additional 40-page publication list). Signed on the front pastedown and first free end page (both tipped in) in black felt tip by ten Apollo astronauts: "Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7," "Frank Borman, Apollo 8 CDR," "Jim McDivitt, Apollo 9 CDR," "Buzz Aldrin, Apollo XI LMP," "Alan Bean, Apollo 12 LMP," "James Lovell, Apollo 8, 13 CDR," "Fred Haise, Apollo 13 LMP," "Dave Scott, Apollo 15 CDR, Apollo 9 CMP," “Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 LMP," and "Gene Cernan, Apollo X-LMP, Apollo XVII-CDR." Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG-/None, with wear and staining to the covers, tape-repaired separation to the inner hinge, and a cocked spine; inner pages are generally fine.
Interestingly, there were several similarities between Verne’s novel and the eventuality of the Apollo program, including: the US being the first to launch a manned spacecraft to circumnavigate the moon; the rejection of Brownsville, Texas as a launch site, and the subsequent choosing of Florida; Apollo 8 being launched in the month of December and splashdown and recovery in the Pacific; and the crews being made up of three members. A seldom-seen and highly desirable format connecting science fiction dreams to space-age realities.
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