THE ATMOSPHERES OF MARS AND VENUS, a Report Prepared by William W. Kellogg and CARL SAGAN.

This is widely considered to be Carl Sagan's first book, which he co-prepared and co-wrote, published when he was just 27. As stated in the American Astronomical Society's obituary of Carl Sagan: "His first book was The Atmospheres of Mars and Venus...".

WASHINGTON D.C.: National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council - A Report of the Space Science Board, (Publication 944), 1961. First edition.

Ex-Library, wrappers re-bound in stiff vinyl library covers with black cloth tape to the spine and to the front and rear inner hinges; the original paper front wrapper is pasted onto the front vinyl board, the entire work is bound within including the original rear wrapper; ex-library marks, labels, stamps, a card pocket, etc., to the covers, title page, front page edges, and here and there. A blank prelim page has a label that reads: "National Research Council / Space Science Board..." The label has an overstamp that reads "WITHDRAWN / Cal. Poly SLO / Robert E. Kennedy Library". The book is 8.5x11 inches, and has 151 pages.

Ex-lib aside, the book is in GOOD condition, there is toning and a couple dark stains to the pasted on front wrapper; toning, creasing and a couple light stains to the bound in rear wrapper; a manuscript note on the front cover (ex-library related?) and some waviness to a few of the latter pages; otherwise complete, with pages that are bright and clear.

A foundational work that fathered numerous scientific studies and explorations of Mars and Venus, and is also a direct link to the multi-billionaires now rushing to Mars, perhaps to claim the planet for themselves.

Original 1961 copies of this work by CARL SAGAN and William W. Kellogg have become nearly impossible to find.

About CARL SAGAN (extracts from Wikipedia and various bios):

******Carl Edward Sagan, b.1934 d.1996, was an American astronomer and planetary scientist. He was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences at Cornell University and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He played an active role in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager programs.

Carl Sagan received his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1960. His thesis, involving a theoretical model of the atmosphere of Venus, demonstrated that the greenhouse effect of a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and water vapor could explain the newly discovered high surface temperature of that planet.

In 1961 THE ATMOSPHERE OF MARS AND VENUS was published by the National Research Council - an Ad Hoc Panel on Planetary Atmospheres. The work was prepared by William W. Kellogg and [the young, just graduated] CARL SAGAN.

Subsequently, in 1961, Harvard University astronomers Fred Whipple and Donald Menzel offered Sagan the opportunity to give a colloquium at Harvard and then offered him a lecturer position. Sagan instead asked to be made an assistant professor, and eventually Whipple and Menzel were able to convince Harvard to offer Sagan the assistant professor position he requested. In 1968 Sagan left Harvard for a position at Cornell, where he remained until his death in 1996.******