This is one of the legendary "Lensman" series of books by "Doc" Smith, specifically the fourth in the series. Published by Fantasy Press in 1951, bound in uniform blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, and encased in a color dustjacket by Ric Binkley. The book is in Near Fine condition, with clean square text block and no bent or folded page corners. The top edge shows a little soiling and there is a small spot along the outside bottom corner where the text block has rubbed on a shelf. The dustjacket can charitably be described as Good at best; the front flap corner has been clipped, but the price remains intact near the fold. The front and rear panels are completely separated along the rear spine hinge, there are several chips, tears, creases, and pieces missing from the spine and along the  front and rear flap folds. With a non-authorial gift inscription on the FFEP and a rubber-stamp of the "Mitchell Gertz Agency" in Beverly Hills, possibly a literary agency soliciting books for film rights.