"ADVENTURES OF A CURIOUS CHARACTER": SIGNED BY RICHARD FEYNMAN

FEYNMAN, Richard P. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Adventures of a Curious Character. New York: W.W. Norton, (1985). Octavo, original half red cloth, original dust jacket. $27,500.

First edition of Feynman’s anecdotal autobiography, author's advance proof copy, signed by the celebrated physicist on the half title.

Winner of the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in quantum physics in 1965 and unexpected "public figure, perhaps the best known scientist in America since Albert Einstein and Robert A. Millikan," Feynman (1918-1988) here regales readers with his "picaresque adventures, from safe-cracking at Los Alamos to carnival dancing in Rio. This unexpected view of the great scientist at play captivated a public that had no notion of why Feynman deserved fame" (ANB). "It goes off in all directions, producing both heat and light" (Time). One of approximately 20 advance proof copies sent to Feynman by the publisher and then presented by him to friends and colleagues, identifiable by a faint numeric stamp on the front free endpaper. Material signed by Feynman is uncommon, as he disliked giving autographs and generally refused to do so.

Book in near-fine condition, contents clean and crisp, cloth with small area of faint staining; in a very good, lightly worn dust jacket with mild toning to spine. A scarce signed copy.