PHILP, Charles G.

Stratosphere and Rocket Flight (Astronautics)

(Pitman, London), 1935

EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE IN THE DUST JACKET

8vo, hardcover; pp. vii, 106, [2].

The first British book on space flight, and one of only three English language books on the topic published prior to WWII.

Little is known about Philp, a science and technology writer who also wrote on early television and high-altitude balloon experiments.

Here he offers a very well informed historical and speculative survey of rocket propulsion, beginning with Goddard's famous experiments of the 1910s and concluding with contemporary German work in the field. There is even a chapter on rocket flight by atomic power, a remarkable subject to include given the early date.

Bibliographic reference: Ciancone, Foreword to Spaceflight, 183a.

Scarce in any condition, but here with the unheard of dust-jacket.

Very good condition: binding sound and cloth clean; pages bright and clean throughout; dust-jacket somewhat chipped and worn; spine slightly darkened, but see photographs.