The Story & Significance
Published in 1969, Ray Bradbury’s I Sing the Body Electric is a luminous collection of eighteen short stories and several poems that captures the author at the peak of his poetic, humanistic style. The title, borrowed from Walt Disney and Walt Whitman, introduces a wide-ranging anthology that moves from the pastoral nostalgia of "The Terrapin" to the futuristic domesticity of the titular story, where an electric, robotic grandmother is commissioned to heal a grieving family. Nominated for the Locus Award, this collection serves as a profound meditation on the intersection of technological advancement and the eternal resilience of the human spirit. For the Bradbury collector, it remains one of the most essential "modern" anthologies of the 20th century.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: Stated First Edition, First Printing (1969).
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Binding: Original blue cloth-backed grey boards with gilt-stamped lettering on the spine. The binding remains remarkably tight and square. However, the boards suffer from fading.
Dust Jacket: Original jacket featuring a distinctive graphic design typical of late-60s Knopf editions. It is in Good condition with minor shelf wear.
Condition Points: The volume is in Good condition. The internal pages are crisp and clean. Noted defects include a small, neat tear at the bottom of the dedication page and minor foxing to the top edge of the text block, which is a common occurrence with the paper stock used by Knopf during this period.
Collector’s Note
This copy of I Sing the Body Electric is a particularly attractive "entry-level" collectible. While many copies from 1969 suffer from significant spine lean or heavy tanning, this specimen maintains its structural integrity and "tightness." The minor foxing to the top edge is stable and does not detract from the vibrancy of the boards or the internal reading experience. For the collector who prioritizes a true first trade printing over a later Book Club Edition, this volume—with its correct Knopf price and clear bibliographic markers—is an excellent value.
Want more information about collecting science fiction titles? Check out our resources page for articles about identifying first editions, and collecting books from Gnome and Fantasy Press.
The Story & Significance
Published in 1969, Ray Bradbury’s I Sing the Body Electric is a luminous collection of eighteen short stories and several poems that captures the author at the peak of his poetic, humanistic style. The title, borrowed from Walt Disney and Walt Whitman, introduces a wide-ranging anthology that moves from the pastoral nostalgia of "The Terrapin" to the futuristic domesticity of the titular story, where an electric, robotic grandmother is commissioned to heal a grieving family. Nominated for the Locus Award, this collection serves as a profound meditation on the intersection of technological advancement and the eternal resilience of the human spirit. For the Bradbury collector, it remains one of the most essential "modern" anthologies of the 20th century.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: Stated First Edition, First Printing (1969).
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Binding: Original blue cloth-backed grey boards with gilt-stamped lettering on the spine. The binding remains remarkably tight and square. However, the boards suffer from fading.
Dust Jacket: Original jacket featuring a distinctive graphic design typical of late-60s Knopf editions. It is in Good condition with minor shelf wear.
Condition Points: The volume is in Good condition. The internal pages are crisp and clean. Noted defects include a small, neat tear at the bottom of the dedication page and minor foxing to the top edge of the text block, which is a common occurrence with the paper stock used by Knopf during this period.
Collector’s Note
This copy of I Sing the Body Electric is a particularly attractive "entry-level" collectible. While many copies from 1969 suffer from significant spine lean or heavy tanning, this specimen maintains its structural integrity and "tightness." The minor foxing to the top edge is stable and does not detract from the vibrancy of the boards or the internal reading experience. For the collector who prioritizes a true first trade printing over a later Book Club Edition, this volume—with its correct Knopf price and clear bibliographic markers—is an excellent value.
Want more information about collecting science fiction titles? Check out our resources page for articles about identifying first editions, and collecting books from Gnome and Fantasy Press.
Image 1 of 5
Image 2 of 5
Image 3 of 5
Image 4 of 5
Image 5 of 5
