SUPER RARE AUTOBIOGRAPHY SIGNED BY NOBEL PRIZE PHYSICIST, RICHARD FEYNMAN
Feynman (Richard P.) “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” Adventures of a Curious Character… as told to Ralph Leighton, first edition, early printing, signed presentation inscription.
“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” Adventures of a Curious Character… as told to Ralph Leighton, first edition, early printing, signed presentation inscription by the author ‘To Camille Durand, Richard Feynman’ to half-title, overall an excellent copy, 8vo, New York, 1985. One of the most popular scientific memoirs of all time. Feynman shares his childhood and developing interest in science, and his work on the Manhattan Project.
Hardcover with dust jacket, 6 x 8.5, 350 pages. Signed on the first free end page in black felt tip, “Richard Feynman.” Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: spine strip of dust jacket lightly sunned as usual, top 1 mm of cloth spine slightly sunned, otherwise both very fine and fresh.
Signed copies of this early printing are rare: Feynman was notorious for refusing to sign copies of his book, reportedly telling his editor ‘I’m not going to go on TV and I’m not going to sign any books!’ (interview with Lawrence Grobel, 28 February, 1986); and although the book eventually sold more than 500,000 copies, its success was unexpected and the initial print run was a lowly 3000 copies. A copy of the first printing signed by Feynman sold at auction at Sotheby’s, New York, 12 December 2017, lot 51, for $43,750.
Richard Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. Here he recounts in his inimitable voice his experience trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek; cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets; accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums; painting a naked female toreador. In short, here is Feynman’s life in all its eccentric combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah. A storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain. He proves once again that it is possible to laugh out loud and scratch your head at the same time. (New York Times Book Review).
