(London), (Pan Books), (1979). The first edition of the first volume in what became the multi-volume Hitchhiker's "trilogy," which was based on a BBC radio series and first published as a paperback original. From the rear cover: "It began as a radio series. Now it's a paperback. From hereon, anything, literally anything, is suddenly possible." Even with its intended overstatement, it couldn't foresee five books (plus a sixth by Eoin Colfer), a television show, a film adaptation, stage adaptations, comic books, a video game, and International Towel Day (May 25). Pages age-toned; page 49/50 has a taped foredge tear; the first page, with the author bio, is starting to separate from the top; and a small label has been partially removed from the lower rear cover, obscuring some of the prices by country. Still a very good copy, and needless to say, extremely scarce in the true first edition. [#035632] SOLD