The Story of Project Mercury, America's Man-In-Space Program

CAIDIN, Martin (1927-1997). The Astronauts. The Story of Project Mercury, America's Man-in-Space Program . New York: E.P. Dutton, 1960. First edition, signed by the Mercury 7. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To Pearl Salvich[?] with best wishes of Mercury Astronauts." Followed by the signatures of all seven on separate lines: JOHN A. GLENN, JR. / WALTER W. SCHIRRA JR / M. SCOTT CARPENTER / VIRGIL I. GRISSOM / DONALD K. SLAYTON / LEROY G. COOPER JR. / ALAN B. SHEPARD JR. above a Project Mercury postage stamp. This copy additionally signed by Grissom on the half-title and by Tom Hernsheimer (aerospace executive) on the front jacket flap and with a first day Project Mercury cover laid in (toned). This is a desirable complete set of Mercury Seven signatures, in their full form before nicknames were commonly used and with prominent signatures of John Glenn (first) and Alan Shepard (last). Alan Shepard would become the first American in space on 5 May 1961 and John Glenn would become the first American to orbit the Earth on 20 February 1962. Octavo. Illustrated with diagrams and from photographs. Original black cloth (endleaves a little foxed), pictorial dust jacket (jacket corners clipped, edges and folds rubbed, folds toned, few light stains to back panel).

Estimate:$3,000

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