Breslau: Verein für Raumschiffahrt, 1. Jahrgang 1927. Octavo, 6 issues plus the supplement; paged [i] ii-iv [1] 2-28; [81] 82-172, illustrations, pictorial self wrappers, bound together in a plain green paper wrapper titled in ink on front cover. The first six issues of this rocketry journal, 15 Juli-15 Dezember 1927, plus the Januar-Juni 1927 Ergänzungsheft. Among the signed articles published in these issues are contributions by Hans Grimm and Hermann Oberth, but the majority are by Max Valier. The Juli-Dezember issues contain the first printing of "Die Fahrt ins All. Eine kosmische Phantasie," a six-part science fiction story by Valier, later published separately in book form as AUF KÜHNER FAHRT ZUM MARS. EINE KOSMISCHE PHANTASIE (1927). "The Society for Space Ship Travel, or Verien für Raumschiffahrt -- the VfR, and afterwards more popularly called the German Rocket Society -- was born on July 5, 1927" (Winter, p. 35). DIE RAKETE is commonly considered to be the first rocket journal but, in fact, it "had a predecessor, a magazine printed six months before the VfR came into being, the DEUTSCHE JUGEND-ZEITUNG (German Youth Journal). The lead article was, interestingly, 'Der Flug zum Monde, seine astronmischen und technischen Grundlagen' ('The Flight to the Moon, its Astronomical Basis'). The fourth issue contained a subtitle change: 'VEREINIGT MIT DER ZEITSCHRIFT "DIE RAKETE"' (Combined with the journal "Die Rakete"). The journal ceased publication shortly thereafter" (Winter, p. 37). When the VfR was founded a new DIE RAKETE appeared, with page numbering continued from the earlier journal, a technical supplement to it, and an index to the contents of both journals (pages 3-4 of the preliminaries). Winter, Prelude to the Space Age. The Rocket Societies: 1924-1940, pp. 35, 37. Spine tanned, all issues are in fine condition. All these early issues are rare and are seldom offered for sale. In a lovely clamshell box. (#135570).
Price: $3,500.00
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