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Collector Features & Identification
• Author: Ben Bova
• Signature: FLAT SIGNED by Ben Bova directly on the title page. (No dedication, no inscription).
• Book Series: The Grand Tour Universe
• Illustrator: John Harris (Jacket Painting)
• Publisher & Year: Tor Books / Tom Doherty Associates (2005)
• Format: Hardcover with Dust Jacket (HCDJ)
• Edition: First Edition, First Printing (Trade Edition).
• Identification: The dust jacket is completely unclipped, displaying the original retail price. Full number line present on the copyright page.
• Genre: Science Fiction / Hard Sci-Fi / Space Exploration
• Topics: Planet Mercury, Saito Yamagata, Astro Manufacturing, Solar Energy, Sabotage
• Page Count: 320 Pages
About the Book (Synopsis)
Mercury is a thrilling, high-stakes installment in Ben Bova\'s monumental Grand Tour universe. The closest planet to the sun is a brutal, heat-scorched rock, but visionary Saito Yamagata believes it holds the key to humanity\'s future energy crisis. He finances a massive, near-impossible engineering project: a base on the planet\'s hostile surface designed to harness raw solar power and beam it back to Earth. But as the crew battles the lethal extremes of radiation and temperature, they discover a far more insidious threat—someone is actively sabotaging the mission from within, turning the deadliest environment in the solar system into a deliberate death trap.
Archival Preservation
• Mylar Shield: Protected by a professional-grade, archival-safe 1.5-mil Mylar cover.
• Full-Wrap Backing: The dust jacket is stabilized with acid-free, pH-neutral paper backing. This prevents edge-creasing and protects against acidic migration from the boards.
• Structural Integrity: Stored upright in a smoke-free, climate-controlled environment. The binding is exceptionally firm and resistant.
Condition Report
This book is in absolute Like New / Mint condition. It is a stunning, collector-grade copy highlighted by the author\'s signature.
• Dust Jacket: Flawless, bright, and completely intact, protected by Mylar. Absolutely no ripping, tearing, creasing, or edge wear.
• Binding & Boards: Tight, square, and completely firm. Absolutely no tape marks, glue residue, tearing, or rips to the naked boards.
• Text Block: This is an exceptional, museum-grade copy. The pages are brilliantly white, crisp, and clean. It is completely stiff and feels entirely unread.
• Internal: AUTOGRAPH NOTE: Flat signed by Ben Bova on the title page in clean ink. Aside from the signature, there are no other markings, library stamps, remainder marks, or previous owner names.
Why This Listing Has Premium Pricing
This is a preserved collector asset that respects forensic honesty. You are paying for verified quality and professional curation:
○ Deep Forensic Research: I conduct meticulous research on every book, thoroughly checking number lines and publisher markers to guarantee exactly which printing you are receiving.
○ The Craft of Preservation: Hardcover books arrive protected by high-grade archival sleeves with acid-free backing.
○ Unmatched Transparency: I provide honest, detailed descriptions of the surface characteristics and structural integrity, ensuring you know exactly what is in your collection.
○ Transparent Pricing & True Shipping: I charge exactly what the post costs me. The listing price reflects the honest market value of a flawless, unread, fully verified first printing.
○ 360° Video Display & Comprehensive Photography: Please see all pictures and the included video to know exactly what you are getting. I utilize a rotating display platform to provide a full 20-second 360-degree rotation of the actual book.
Buyer Inquiries
○ Questions: If you have any questions about this listing or need to see additional details, please reach out. I am always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Physical Dimensions (Books Only)
• Height: 8.50 in
• Length: 5.75 in
• Width: 1.10 in
• Weight: 1 lb 3 oz
Shipping & Handling
• Your book will be shipped with protective padding in a safely padded box or a bubble-wrapped envelope. I ship within 1-2 business days.
• Service: USPS Media Mail
