BURROUGHS, Edgar Rice (1875–1950). A Princess of Mars. Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1917.
8vo. Frontispiece and 4 sepia plates by Frank E. Schoonover, who also provided the artwork for the dust jacket. Original full dark brown cloth, front board and spine stamped in red (spine a bit rubbed and rolled, minor occasional rubbing and soiling to boards, endleaves foxed, text mildly toned, with occasional foxing, plates somewhat foxed); original dust jacket (jacket restored and backed with stiff paper, toned and rubbed).
FIRST EDITION OF THIS LANDMARK SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL. This book’s setting was based on the scientific writings of the time, especially those of Percival Lowell. This is arguably one of the most influential science fiction novels, having inspired many writers and artists, including Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, James Cameron and George Lucas. Although this is the fifth novel published by Burroughs, it was the first novel that he wrote: “this profoundly seminal work written in 1911 virtually single handedly created and then explored a new genre of adventure fiction, the interplanetary romance. The story belongs to the tradition of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and the lost race novels of H. Rider Haggard, but it led the direction of science fiction novels into a new realm for the next several decades, and its influence upon future generations of writers, astronomers and politicians is well–documented.” (Zeuschner). In the RARE DUST JACKET.
Bleiler, Science–Fiction: The Early Years 304; Cawthorn and Moorcock, Fantasy: The 100 Best Books, 25; Currey, p. 91; Zeuschner p. 249.