The Story & Significance
Edward E. "Doc" Smith, the "Father of Space Opera," expanded his legendary Lensman universe with The Vortex Blaster (1960). This fix-up novel compiles stories originally published in Comet and Astonishing Stories (1941–1942), centered on Neal "Storm" Cloud, a specialist tasked with the suicidal mission of neutralizing uncontrolled atomic vortices. Unlike the grand galactic wars of the main series, this volume offers a more localized, procedural look at the dangers of nuclear power in the Lensman era. For collectors, it represents one of the final hardcover releases from the prestigious Gnome Press before its eventual dissolution.
Physical Description & Provenance
Binding: Original light blue cloth boards with yellow-stamped spine lettering. This is the first state binding, as identified in the Currey bibliography. Boards are square with sharp corners; the blue cloth remains vibrant.
Dust Jacket: Features original wrap-around artwork by W.I. Van der Poel. The jacket is unclipped ($3.00 price intact) and is now protected in a new archival Mylar sleeve.
Internal State: First Edition, First Printing (one of approximately 3,000 copies). The binding is tight and the hinges are fully intact.
Condition Note (Text Block): This copy exhibits significant tanning/darkening to the text block edges and internal pages. This is a common point of issue for this specific title, as Gnome Press utilized high-acid, lower-grade paper stock during their 1960 production run.
Points of Issue: Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page with the Hicksville, NY imprint. The presence of the blue/yellow cloth combination confirms this as the earliest trade state.
Collector’s Note
The blue cloth variant of The Vortex Blaster is the most sought-after state for Gnome Press completists. While the text block shows the typical browning associated with late-stage Gnome Press paper, the exterior presentation of this copy is exceptional. The Van der Poel jacket has escaped the heavy spine-sunning that usually affects this title, making it a beautiful "shelf-copy." This represents a rare opportunity to own the first state of a "Doc" Smith cornerstone.
The Story & Significance
Edward E. "Doc" Smith, the "Father of Space Opera," expanded his legendary Lensman universe with The Vortex Blaster (1960). This fix-up novel compiles stories originally published in Comet and Astonishing Stories (1941–1942), centered on Neal "Storm" Cloud, a specialist tasked with the suicidal mission of neutralizing uncontrolled atomic vortices. Unlike the grand galactic wars of the main series, this volume offers a more localized, procedural look at the dangers of nuclear power in the Lensman era. For collectors, it represents one of the final hardcover releases from the prestigious Gnome Press before its eventual dissolution.
Physical Description & Provenance
Binding: Original light blue cloth boards with yellow-stamped spine lettering. This is the first state binding, as identified in the Currey bibliography. Boards are square with sharp corners; the blue cloth remains vibrant.
Dust Jacket: Features original wrap-around artwork by W.I. Van der Poel. The jacket is unclipped ($3.00 price intact) and is now protected in a new archival Mylar sleeve.
Internal State: First Edition, First Printing (one of approximately 3,000 copies). The binding is tight and the hinges are fully intact.
Condition Note (Text Block): This copy exhibits significant tanning/darkening to the text block edges and internal pages. This is a common point of issue for this specific title, as Gnome Press utilized high-acid, lower-grade paper stock during their 1960 production run.
Points of Issue: Stated "First Edition" on the copyright page with the Hicksville, NY imprint. The presence of the blue/yellow cloth combination confirms this as the earliest trade state.
Collector’s Note
The blue cloth variant of The Vortex Blaster is the most sought-after state for Gnome Press completists. While the text block shows the typical browning associated with late-stage Gnome Press paper, the exterior presentation of this copy is exceptional. The Van der Poel jacket has escaped the heavy spine-sunning that usually affects this title, making it a beautiful "shelf-copy." This represents a rare opportunity to own the first state of a "Doc" Smith cornerstone.
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