Sacramento Book Fair - a few more treats

Not all of the material I'll be taking with me next week is 1) part of the consignment collection I've been highlighting this week and 2) Illustrated Editions.  In fact, the illustrated editions that are from this consignment are generally things that I love to deal with, but  are not my main focus for stock.

I note in my blurb for my online store that I specialize in Modern Science Fiction / Fantasy , Horror and Children's Picture books, along with Modern First Editions, etc.  But truth to be told, my stock tends to vary year to year by current interest and what happens to fall into my hands. 

One year I had a wonderful collection of H. P. Lovecraft and Arkham House material that came in a collection. 

Last year, I dealt with (and for the most part, still have) a really nifty group of Western Fiction titles that turned up.

Currently, it's the Illustrated Editions.

But my personal interests have changed (I like to think of it as expanded) over time -- and right at the moment, I've been actively searching out books in the areas of (deep breath): atomics - atomic energy, atomic bombs, atomic raditation, etc., Aviation / Aeronatics - especially having to do with women in aviation or very early aviation and the theory and mathematics behind avaition, and also Astronatics  (you know - astronauts and the stuff that they get into). Oh, and don't forget computers, computer science and cybernetics.

All of these areas of interest do have a commonality to them -- they relate in one way or another to science fiction  & fantasy.  Yeah, I know it can be a bit of a stretch, but there's LOTS of room for these topics if you look at the long view of science fiction.

So today I thought I'd show off a few of the items I've picked up in the last six months from these areas.
(Note - I was planning on putting together a catalogue of these books with some killer commentary and connections, but plans have changed)

Thad Sears : The Physician in Atomic Defense (1953)

Sears, Thad P. (M.D., F.A.C.P.) with a foreword by James J. Waring : THE PHYSICIAN IN ATOMIC DEFENSE : Atomic Principles, Biologic Reaction and Organization for Medical Defense. 1953. The Year Book Publishers, Inc.. Chicago, IL. Hardcover. 1st Edition/ 1st Printing. VG+ / NONE.  B&W Illustrations.   "This book is the result of a deep-seated conviction on the part of Dr. Sears that the community in which he lived should be prepared for atomic warfare. Accordingly, through study and special training, he has absorbed the fundamentals of atomic energy. To this basic information he has added a dogged determination to arouse civilians and his professional colleagues from their unrealistic complacency. To all this he has brought to bear enthusiasm and a natural gift of exposition and teaching."

Desmond King-Hele: Theory of Satellite Orbits in an Atmosphere (1964)

King-Hele, Desmond: THEORY OF SATELLITE ORBITS IN AN ATMOSPHERE 1964. Butterworths. London, England. Hardcover. 1st Edition/ 1st Printing. VG+ / VG. Illus Type: Graphs. Butterworths Mathematical Texts.   King-Hele was awarded the Eddington Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society in 1971 for his work on "geophysical application of the study of the orbits of artificial satellites." (from Wikipedia).   "The theory has already been used successfully in geophysical research, and is essential to the understanding of the evolution of actual satellite orbits." 

Von Foerster, Heinz (edited by) (assistant editors Margaret Mead and Hans Lukas Teuber)

 CYBERNETICS (1955)

Von Foerster, Heinz (edited by) (assistant editors Margaret Mead and Hans Lukas Teuber): CYBERNETICS : Circular Causal and Feedback Mechanisms in Biological and Social Systems : Transactions of the Tenth Conference April 22, 23, and 24, 1953, Princeton, N. J.. 1955. Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation. New York. Hardcover. 1st Edition/ 1st Printing. VG / NONE. DESCRIPTION:   Ex Library copy from the Library of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (very appropriate) -- it was  removed as a duplicate (according to the stamps) then became part of the John Woolman School Library from Nevada City, CA.    "The three presentations published herewith were presented and discussed at the Tenth and last Conference on Cybernetics (Circular Causal and Feedback Mechanisms in Biological and Social Systems)".  Included are Introductory Remarks by Warren S. McCulloch, Studies on Activity of the Brain by W. Grey-Walter, Semantic Informatoin and Its Measures by Y. Bar-Hillel, Meaning in Language and How It Is Acquired by Yuen Ren Chao, Appendix I: Summary of the Points of Agreement Reached in the Previous Nine Conferences on Cybernetics by Warren S. McCulloch, along with Appendix II: References, and Cumulative Index 1946 throughy 1953.  Among the notables at this conference is Margaret Mead (one of only four women present) . 



And finally (well, for now)  I'll throw this one in, just because (because it was one of the ones that would make the catalogue fun):

Stanley Hendricks: Astronauts on the Moon: the Story of the Apollo Moon Landings (1969)

Hendricks, Stanley: ASTRONAUTS ON THE MOON : The Story of the Apollo Moon Landings. 1969. Hallmark Cards, Inc.. Kansas City, MO. Hardcover. 1st Edition/ 1st Printing. VG+ / VG+. IColor Illustrations  by Al Muenchen.   A Pop-Up and movable piece book.  "Now young space enthusiasts can join the Apollo astronauts in a flight to the moon through the magic of three-dimensional action illustrations."  Uncommon to find with the dust jacket.