Frau im Mond [Woman in the Moon]

Berlin: August Scherl, 1928. First Edition, preceding all others, including the movie tie-in edition, published later the same year by Scherl. This copy with an alternate jacket—differing completely with the one referenced in Rössler's "Filmfieber." Rare in dust jacket.

Basis for the German silent film classic by Fritz Lang, with a screenplay adapted by von Harbou from her novel. Released in the US as "Woman in the Moon."

Like "Metropolis," a novel that was conceived and executed simultaneously with the film. It is also generally recognized as the first serious film to portray space travel (preceded by Georges Melies' equally important but more comic 1902 silent, "La voyage dans la lune"). It was the first film to introduce the basics of rocket travel to a mass audience, including the use of a multi-stage rocket, and was the first instance in a film of a "countdown to zero" being used prior to a rocket launch.

Jacket design by S.B. Singer, with his motif on the front panel artwork.

Near Fine, with no rubbing to the gilt, only some scattered foxing and a tiny splash to the otherwise bright yellow topstain, and with gold cloth ribbon bookmark intact, in a Very Good plus dust jacket, with minor wear at the corner, a bit of even toning to the spine panel, and light fray at the crown. A very attractive copy.

Rössler, Filmfieber, p. 117.

[Book #143446]