This listing highlights an authentic, inscribed first edition copy of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s World Without Sun, authored by the legendary oceanographer, filmmaker, and pioneer of modern marine conservation, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Edited by James Dugan and published in 1965 by Harper & Row, this seminal volume chronicles the historic Conshelf II (Continental Shelf Station II) project in the Red Sea—man’s first extended seafloor colony, where oceanauts lived and worked continuously under the ocean for a month.
Extensively illustrated with 102 vibrant full-color photographs and 140 black-and-white plates, the book captures the groundbreaking technology, underwater diving saucer operations, and marine life discoveries that defined Cousteau's mid-century expeditions. Highly prized by collectors of scientific exploration, oceanography, and twentieth-century adventure literature, signed volumes by Captain Cousteau—particularly those featuring lengthy handwritten inscriptions in his native French—are extraordinarily scarce on the market. Complete with its original pictorial dust jacket and full provenance, this presentation copy stands as a major investment-grade centerpiece.
Notes from the Consignor: 1964 First Edition/First Printing. Signed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau on the half-title page in a blue pen. With original dustjacket. World Without Sun, edited by James Dugan, is "the breath-taking narrative, in photographs and text, of man's first undersea colony, in which Captain Cousteau's Oceanauts lived for a continuous month on the sea floor." Deep blue cloth with silver gilt lettering and illustration. Rich with black-and-white as well as color photos. Toning to front and back blank pages, but otherwise near fine condition. Dustjacket as some scattered creases, minor surface wear and small edge tears. Comes with letter of authenticity from RR Auctions.
NOTES:
Books signed by Jaccques Cousteau are not very common - and this title in particular is hard to find signed. Cousteau is still the most famous and iconic oceanographer in history, who popularized marine science for millions of people around the globe through his television specials and documentaries. He was also the co-inventor of first SCUBA diving system. Like millions of kids growing up in the 1960s and 70s, I was mesmerized by his fascinating journeys and deep sea discoveries. So when the book came up for auction years ago, I had to have it.
Boldly signed by Jacques Cousteau and inscribed in French - translating to roughly: "I have memories of a very pleasant trip back, from Durham to Washington in Dr. Patterson's company, with the most heartfelt sentiments, [Cousteau signature]"
- FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING: Published by Harper & Row, Publishers, New York (1965).
- BINDING: Bound in original dark cloth boards with clear silver spine lettering, housed inside the original unclipped pictorial dust jacket featuring underwater photography.
- ILLUSTRATIVE CONTENT: Features 242 total photographic illustrations detailing the Conshelf II subsea village, ocean floor architecture, and diving equipment.
- HANDWRITTEN FRENCH INSCRIPTION: Inscribed across four lines directly on the title page in vibrant teal ink: "En souvenir d'un très agréable voyage aérien, de Durham à Washington en compagnie du Dr. Patterson, avec mes sentiments les plus cordiaux, J. Y. Cousteau".
- AUTOGRAPH CHARACTERISTICS: Features Cousteau's signature "J. Y. Cousteau" with his distinctive elongated underline.
- PROVENANCE & CERTIFICATION: Includes a full R&R Auction Certificate of Authenticity (COA) (Catalog 350, Item 152 / Inventory #3198628), verifying the signature and inscription.
This listing highlights an authentic, inscribed first edition copy of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s World Without Sun, authored by the legendary oceanographer, filmmaker, and pioneer of modern marine conservation, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Edited by James Dugan and published in 1965 by Harper & Row, this seminal volume chronicles the historic Conshelf II (Continental Shelf Station II) project in the Red Sea—man’s first extended seafloor colony, where oceanauts lived and worked continuously under the ocean for a month.
Extensively illustrated with 102 vibrant full-color photographs and 140 black-and-white plates, the book captures the groundbreaking technology, underwater diving saucer operations, and marine life discoveries that defined Cousteau's mid-century expeditions. Highly prized by collectors of scientific exploration, oceanography, and twentieth-century adventure literature, signed volumes by Captain Cousteau—particularly those featuring lengthy handwritten inscriptions in his native French—are extraordinarily scarce on the market. Complete with its original pictorial dust jacket and full provenance, this presentation copy stands as a major investment-grade centerpiece.
Notes from the Consignor: 1964 First Edition/First Printing. Signed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau on the half-title page in a blue pen. With original dustjacket. World Without Sun, edited by James Dugan, is "the breath-taking narrative, in photographs and text, of man's first undersea colony, in which Captain Cousteau's Oceanauts lived for a continuous month on the sea floor." Deep blue cloth with silver gilt lettering and illustration. Rich with black-and-white as well as color photos. Toning to front and back blank pages, but otherwise near fine condition. Dustjacket as some scattered creases, minor surface wear and small edge tears. Comes with letter of authenticity from RR Auctions.
NOTES:
Books signed by Jaccques Cousteau are not very common - and this title in particular is hard to find signed. Cousteau is still the most famous and iconic oceanographer in history, who popularized marine science for millions of people around the globe through his television specials and documentaries. He was also the co-inventor of first SCUBA diving system. Like millions of kids growing up in the 1960s and 70s, I was mesmerized by his fascinating journeys and deep sea discoveries. So when the book came up for auction years ago, I had to have it.
Boldly signed by Jacques Cousteau and inscribed in French - translating to roughly: "I have memories of a very pleasant trip back, from Durham to Washington in Dr. Patterson's company, with the most heartfelt sentiments, [Cousteau signature]"
- FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING: Published by Harper & Row, Publishers, New York (1965).
- BINDING: Bound in original dark cloth boards with clear silver spine lettering, housed inside the original unclipped pictorial dust jacket featuring underwater photography.
- ILLUSTRATIVE CONTENT: Features 242 total photographic illustrations detailing the Conshelf II subsea village, ocean floor architecture, and diving equipment.
- HANDWRITTEN FRENCH INSCRIPTION: Inscribed across four lines directly on the title page in vibrant teal ink: "En souvenir d'un très agréable voyage aérien, de Durham à Washington en compagnie du Dr. Patterson, avec mes sentiments les plus cordiaux, J. Y. Cousteau".
- AUTOGRAPH CHARACTERISTICS: Features Cousteau's signature "J. Y. Cousteau" with his distinctive elongated underline.
- PROVENANCE & CERTIFICATION: Includes a full R&R Auction Certificate of Authenticity (COA) (Catalog 350, Item 152 / Inventory #3198628), verifying the signature and inscription.
