The Viking Rocket Story

Harper & Brothers. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1955. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Hardcover first printing with dustjacket, original acetate cover, and gold commemorative coin, commemorative bookplate on front end-paper has an illustration of a Viking rocket in flight and states "This book is presented with the compliments of Martin Company at Baltimore, Maryland at the opening of Viking Hall...The Hayden Planetarium New York...June 30, 1955," author has signed this copy on the half-title page, the gold coin was also issued to commemorate the opening of Viking Hall and states same along with a raised illustration of the Viking rocket, condition is as follows: book has minor flaws only: two tape-ghosts on the rear end-paper where original acetate cover was attached, on page 59 the word "Reaction" is underlined in ink, there are no other markings, excellent condition overall, the dustjacket is also very well-preserved, it has very light wear at the spine-extremities and a tan tape-mark on the rear flap, the original price is present and a professional mylar cover is included, the original acetate cover which contains a quotation from Lao-tse is quite scuffed and has a circular area of glue residue from where the commemorative coin was attached by rhe previous owner, the coin itself has a darkened area on the back side from the glue but the quote "The skyline is a promise not a bound (Masefield) is readable, the front side of the coin is flawless, author Rosen was the scientific officer in charge of development of the Viking rocket and his book chronicles the development and flights of the early Vikings, illustrated with diagrams and 32 photographs, scarce item and quite an addition to any serious library on rocketry/space exploration; Signed by Author .