Spaceship Handbook. Rocket and Spacecraft Designs of the 20th Century, Fictional, Factual and Fantasy [WITH A SIGNED LETTER TO RAY HARRYHAUSEN, FROM THE AUTHOR]

Livermore, CA: ARA Press, 2001. First edition. Hardcover. vg+ to near fine. Large quarto. (xviii) 423pp. 51pp. (Appendix-A), 22pp. (Appendix-B), 16pp. (Index). Illustrated blue and red glossy paper boards. The book is an exhaustive and amazingly detailed visual and technical survey of spaceships, rockets and spacecraft designs of the 20th century, both real and fictional. The books intended use, as stated by the authors, is as a reference guide for modelers but is targeted toward space aficionados and collectors alike. The book covers wide ranging topics from the history and theory of rocket science, to the history of spacecraft in print and film, and is profusely illustrated throughout with countless artworks, photographic reproductions and detail design schematics depicting all manner of spacecraft and rocket design. Also included are multiple large appendices at the end of the book, and a detailed index. This includes a section discussing the science of space travel and rocketry itself.

Laid in at the interior front cover is a signed letter from author Jack Hargerty, to acclaimed film animator and special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen, care of Arnold Kunert.

Binding with the bottom right corner of the back cover slightly bumped. Binding in very good+, interior in near fine condition.