Thea von Harbou

Rare first English edition and first printing of the book form of cinema's first science fiction epic.

• Thea von Harbou (German).
• Jacket designed by Aubrey Hammond.
• London: The Readers Library Publishing Company Ltd., 1927.
• Bound in original red cloth stamped on front board and spine with elaborate floral border with original multicolor pictorial dust jacket.

The iconic movie has influenced the visual shape of film since its debut in 1927, including modern masterpieces like Blade Runner and Star Wars. Thea von Harbou, already a popular writer, wrote this book as part of the production of the film: she and her (then) husband, director Fritz Lang, wrote the screenplay together. A pioneering movie in both science fiction and German film, the story of a future dystopia is most remarkable for its visual virtuosity; the production nearly bankrupted the studio with its expensive Expressionistic and Cubistic set designs. The modern aesthetic is echoed in the superb jacket design by the English avant-garde artist Aubrey Hammond, who is also known for his 1920s London Underground posters. A stunning copy.