A Brief History of Time. by HAWKING, Stephen - 1989: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. Introduction by Carl Sagan. Illustrations by Ron Miller.

London: Bantam Press,, 1989. A masterpiece of scientific popularisation First UK edition, later impression. The title page with a thumb print of Hawking, next to which his personal assistant has inscribed in blue ink, "Thumb print of, S. W. Hawking, witnessed by, Susan Masey." One of the most important scientific works of the second half of the 20th century and a masterpiece of scientific popularisation, A Brief History of Time details for a lay readership the origin and eventual fate of the universe. Octavo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket. Housed in a dark blue quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Illustrations and diagrams throughout. Fine in fine dust jacket.