The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - Lettered Edition

One of the most revered and analyzed works in the science-fiction canon, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells was first serialized in 1897 by Pearson's Weekly in the UK and Cosmopolitan in the USA. Upon its publication, The War of the Worlds was utterly unique in its scope and the first of its kind, depicting a conflict between humans and an extraterrestrial race.

Among its many interpretations, the novel has been viewed as a commentary on evolution theory, British imperialism, and Victorian superstitions, fears, and prejudices. H.G. Wells once said the plot arose from a conversation with his brother Frank about the British colonization of Tasmania, and its effects on the indigenous Tasmanians. "How would it be with us," Wells wondered, "if some creatures of a vastly superior power came down upon us and behaved like a drunken man-of-war's crew let loose among gentle savages?"

The War of the Worlds has spawned half a dozen feature films, radio dramas, a record album, comic books, television series, and several sequels by other authors. It was most memorably adapted as a radio drama by Orson Welles in 1938, the broadcast of which caused widespread panic among listeners who believed the Martian invasion to be real. The novel is also credited with popularizing the term "Martian," and influencing the work of scientists, leading to the invention of the liquid fueled rocket which resulted in the Apollo 11 Moon landing 71 years later.

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The limited edition of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells is presented in two states: Lettered and Numbered. 

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LETTERED EDITION

• 6” x 9” trim size.
• Rounded smyth-sewn binding.
• Full goatskin handbinding with gold foil stamping on the cover.
• Raised bands on the spine with a leather spine label.
• Introduction by Orson Scott Card.
• Six ink illustrations by Florian Bertmer printed letterpress along with the text.
• Signed by Orson Scott Card and Florian Bertmer.
• Endpapers hand marbled in the U.K.
• Printed letterpress on Stonehenge cotton paper.
• Two color printing on title page.
• Housed in a quarter leather clamshell enclosure with a rounded spine and cloth boards.
• Limited to 26 copies.

Includes 112 Page Bonus Material Booklet

• The Crystal Egg – Precursor to The War of the Worlds
• The Things That Live on Mars by H.G. Wells – Cosmopolitan Article
• Orson Welles 1938 Radio Broadcast Script
• Reprint of The Boston Daily Globe’s front page headline
• Reproductions of 32 famous Henrique Alvim Corrêa drawings
• Art from Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds

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PLEASE NOTE: Lettered editions are shipped with a signature required.

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Published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.
Artwork © 2019 by Florian Bertmer