Books

London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1965. First British edition. First British edition, first printing. Signed by Frank Herbert on the title page, inscribed "For John[,] 9 June '81[,] Frank Herbert" with the author's printed name crossed out. viii, 430 pp. Bound in publisher's brown cloth with black spine lettering. Very Good, with some foxing to boards and edges, a few reading smudges, hinges starting with small crack in front gutter near head. In a Very Good dust jacket, typical laminate bubbling along gutters, small closed tear to front panel near upper outer corner, small chip at head, scratch to back panel, unclipped (30/- net). A signed copy of the bestselling, award-winning science-fiction epic inspired by the Oregon dunes. The novel in turn inspired multiple films as well as a series of novels by Herbert and his son.

In Frank Herbert's seminal science fiction novel "Dune," the intricate tale unfolds across a distant future where noble families vie for control over the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the highly coveted spice melange. The Atreides family, led by Duke Leto Atreides and his son Paul, assumes stewardship of Arrakis, navigating a perilous political landscape rife with treachery and ambition. As Paul adapts to the harsh desert environment, he encounters the Fremen, Arrakis's indigenous people, and discovers his latent abilities tied to their prophecy of a messianic figure known as the Kwisatz Haderach. Paul grapples with his destiny, mastering the complexities of politics, religion, and warfare while confronting personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. The novel explores themes of power, ecology, religion, and the human condition, set against a richly imagined backdrop of a desert planet teeming with political intrigue and mystical intrigue.

The First Edition (but also second printing) of Dune has blue boards. If the boards are red or dark brown, this is the Book Club Edition (and not as valuable). On the inside of the rear flap look for these text lines at the bottom: CHILTON BOOKS (a thick horizontal black line) A division of Chilton Company Publishers Philadelphia and New York Inside the book look for: Copyright © 1965 by Frank Herbert First Edition All Rights Reserved Published in Philadelphia by Chilton Company and simultaneously in Toronto, Canada, by Ambassador Books, Ltd. The original dust jacket of the first edition features a design by John Schoenherr, depicting a giant sand-worm against a desert landscape. Also, check for the price listed on the front flap, which should be $5.95 for the first edition. The flap has a blue tone to it as opposed to a red tone for the Book Club version. Be aware of 'Book Club Editions'. The book club editions look similar to the real first editions but are smaller. Look for any indications that it might be a book club edition. These typically mention the book club edition on the jacket or the copyright page. The original cover of the real first edition was bound in blue cloth with gold lettering on the spine. The First Edition book weighs approximately 928 grams. The First Edition will NOT have an ISBN number.