THE DOUBLE HELIX: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE STRUCTURE OF DNA [American Book Club edition]

Descripción

A book club edition of the first American edition, first published in 1968. Atheneum, New York is the stated publisher, but there is no mention of first edition on the printer's page, which states 'Library of Congress catalog card number 68-16217. Published simultaneously in Canada by McClelland and Stewart Ltd.' The dustwrapper is also unpriced. Dustwrapper designed by Jeanyee Wong. Illustrated with 19 half-tone, full page, photographic plates, six pages reproducing Watson's letter to Max Delbruck, telling of the Double Helix, & 11 diagrams. ***Near fine in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Boards nice and clean and unmarked - just slightly faded at the extremities. Light sporadic foxing to the fore-edge of the page block. Internally near fine with a neat ownership inscription to the front pastedown, partially hidden by the front flap of the dustwrapper. The endpapers are bright red. Pages clean. ***In a very good illustrated dustwrapper that is unpriced. The dustwrapper is complete, but has some edge wear and creasing, mainly to the top and tail of the spine, with slight loss at the top of the spine and back panel. No major chips or tears, but there is some surface loss to the edges of the dustwrapper. Spine of dustwrapper is faded. Back panel is unevenly browned, being a white background. Inner front flap slightly creased at the top edge. ***216 mm x145 mm. 226 pages - with a Foreword by Sir Lawrence Bragg and a Preface by the author. ***'"It is a strange model and embodies several unusual features. However, since DNA is an unusual substance, we are not hesitant in being bold." Thus quietly, Jim Watson, aged twenty-four, wrote from Cambridge to a friend in the States, one month before the public announcement in April 1953 of a discovery that many scientists now call the most significant since Mendel's. DNA is the molecule of heredity, and to know its structure and method of reproduction enables science to know how genetic directions are written and transmitted, how the forms of life are ordered from one generation to the next. The search for this molecular structure is the story told here, in a book that also has its unusual features as well as a measure of boldness. The work was done between the fall of 1951 and April 1953, and the scientific paper announcing the discovery was published in Nature immediately. What we have is more than the "inside story" of one participant's version of a revolutionary discovery. We have a book, written on the assumption that science is a human endeavor, and important enough to be written about forthrightly.' [Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper] ***Book club edition of the first American edition published in a similar format to the first edition. Copies of the Atheneum edition of this classic work are uncommon in the UK. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. N° de ref. del artículo 7978

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