Hi, this is my first post on here – I found the message board by accident on Google, and I think it's great that there's a discussion board dedicated to one of my favourite writers!

By a bizarre bit of luck I managed to pick up a copy of the Martian Chronicles for three pounds. It's a true first edition, with green boards and dust jacket (unclipped) showing the correct price.

What's really interesting is the bookplate on the first page; it's a printed plate which states 'Francis K Price, representant en Europe, Doubleday & Co. New York'. Below that, in typed red letters, there is the name 'Harold Matson Inc.' and a New York address and a bit of legal speak in french.

I've done a bit of searching and discovered that Francis K Price was the head of Doubleday in Europe in the fifties, and that Harold Matson was (and still is) Ray Bradbury's literary agent.

Other than this I'm not sure where the book has come from, and just wondered if anybody else has come across a bookplate like this and has any more information?

Sorry for such a long winded message!

I forget what the monetary exchange is between the British pound the American Dollar, but isn't it close to $1.79? If so, I would say that you stumbled across a very good acquisition at a very fantastic price.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: biplane1,

Yes it is - I couldn't quite believe it myself! I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again... does any body else collect Ray Bradbury first editions?