Books

First UK edition, first impression, published simultaneously in America on 1 April 1988. A masterpiece of scientific popularization and one of the most important scientific works of the late 20th century, the work details for a lay readership the origin and eventual fate of the universe. The first edition includes an introduction by the astronomer Carl Sagan; this was removed in later editions due to copyright disputes and replaced with an introduction by Hawking. Octavo. Original blue boards, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket. Illustrations and diagrams throughout. Spine ends gently bruised, else cloth and contents clean; jacket unclipped: a fine copy in fine jacket. .

In 'A Brief History of Time', Stephen Hawking attempts to explain a range of subjects in cosmology, including the Big Bang, black holes, and light cones to the non-specialized reader. His goal is to provide an overview of the history, laws, and major theories of the cosmos in a way that is accessible to the general public, without complex mathematical jargon.