THE HITCH HIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

First edition, first printing. Paperback original. Publisher's pictorial card covers. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, with a touch of rubbing to the corners and a tiny indentation next to the spine fold on the back cover. The contents, with faint white marks to the bottom edge of the text block and toning to the cheap paper stock, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps.

The first novel in a comedic science fiction series that would become a global multimedia phenomenon, it began as six radio plays broadcast on the BBC on 8 March 1978. Following their immediate success, Douglas Adams adapted the first four parts into a novel. Pan Books acquired the rights and published it as a paperback original on 12 October 1979, selling more than 250,000 copies within its first three months. A hardback edition, published by Arthur Barker, followed later that year.