Everett F. Bleiler; T. E. Dikty [editors] — The Best Science Fiction Stories

New York, Frederick Fell Inc. 1949-1953. First edition. Cloth. A smart set of five volumes of The Best Science Fiction Stories series, with volume one signed and inscribed by the editors. Five volumes. First editions. With volume one signed and inscribed by the editors to the front endpaper, which reads: "8-17-1949 To T. L. MacDonald with the very best personal wishes of the editors." A collection of anthologies of science fiction short stories, being the first published anthology to present the best science fiction stories for a given year. With most stories having previously appeared in magazines such as Planet Stories, Astounding Science Fiction, Blue Book, Comment, and Thrilling Wonder Stories from the previous year. The collection was published annually from 1949 to 1954, with additional publication Year's Best Science Fiction Novels being issued for the years 1952, 1953, and 1954. With contributions from authors such as Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Fredric Brown, Clifford Simak, Robert S. Carr, L. Sprague de Camp, Gordon Dickson, Katherine MacLean, William F. Temple, Alfred Bester, Betsy Curtis, Zenna Henderson, John D. MacDonald, Walter M. Miller, and John Wyndham, amongst others. Edited by Everett Franklin Bleiler, an American editor, bibliographer, and scholar of science fiction, detective fiction, and fantasy literature, and Thaddeus Maxim Eugene (Ted) Dikty, an American editor who also played a role as one of the earliest science fiction anthologists, and as a publisher. This set contains: The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1949, 1949. The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1950, 1950. The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1951, 1951. The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1952, 1952. The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1953, 1953. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, very smart with minor wear to the extremities. Original unclipped dust wrappers are also smart with light wear and the odd small closed tear to the extremities. Light sunning to the spines, particularly to the volume for 1950, with the odd small mark to the panels. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with light age toning and the odd small mark to the endpapers. Editors' ink inscription to the front endpaper of volume one only. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.