Books

First editions, first printings, with all first issue points, of this monumental work of science fiction, which won the special Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966, beating Heinlein's Future History series and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The Foundation trilogy first appeared as a series of short stories and novellas in Astounding Science-Fiction magazine between May 1942 and January 1950. It stood as a trilogy for nearly 30 years until Asimov's publishers persuaded him to return to the story. He wrote two sequels and two prequels, but it is this core trilogy that stands alongside I, Robot (1950) as Asimov's crowning achievement. The first issue points are as follows: Foundation is bound in cloth (sheets measuring 20.3 x 13.5 x 1.9 cm bulk); Foundation and Empire is bound in red boards lettered in black with the publisher's imprint on the spine measuring 2.2 cm across (not 2.8 cm) and the sheets measuring 1.8 cm across (not 2.3 cm) with the dust jacket printed in four colours rather than only blue and black; Second Foundation is bound in blue boards lettered in brown. Anatomy of Wonder II-47; Currey, p. 17. Three works, octavo, in Currey's A bindings and jackets. Foundation: original blue cloth, spine lettered in red, galaxy motif on front cover in red; Foundation and Empire: original red boards, spine lettered in black, galaxy motif on front cover in black; Second Foundation: original light blue boards, spine lettered in brown. With dust jackets. F&E spine slightly cocked, front inner hinge just starting, jacket notably bright, short closed tear to foot of front panel; SF jacket with short closed tear to foot of rear joint; overall, a few bumps at spine ends and lightly rubbed extremities, jackets occasionally rubbed, a few chips to creased edges, a bright, near-fine set in near-fine unclipped jackets.

Foundation is a seminal work of science fiction by Isaac Asimov. It is the first published installment of the Foundation series. The story unfolds over several centuries and follows the efforts of the psychohistorian Hari Seldon to preserve knowledge and culture in the face of the fall of the Galactic Empire.