by

Ray Bradury

Book Description: Lisboa, «Livros do Brasil», «Colecção Argonauta N.18», 1955 16mo.

Cover art: Cândido Costa Pinto

Edition: First Portuguese Edition

Book Condition: Fine. Astounding cover art by Cândido Costa Pinto

«Colecção Argonauta» is a mythical Portuguese collection of paperback SCI-FI books, published by «Livros do Brasil». This collection pioneered the dissemination of science fiction in Portugal and was one of the most influential Portuguese language publications in the genre. All of the most important and famous writers of the genre were at the time published, (most of them as first edition): Clifford D. Simak, Robert Heinlein, A. E. Van Vogt, Brian Aldiss, Frederik Pohl, Ray Bradury, Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick,  Arthur C. Clarke and so many others.

Number 1 to number 100 were published between 1954 and 1965, the collection would last for more than 60 years ending with number 552.

The earliest numbers are ferociously sought out by SCI-FI fans, not only because of their scarcity but most of all because of theire exquisite and stunning artwork covers. Covers design were created by Candido Costa Pinto (Portuguese Surrealistic Artist that formed and joined the "Grupo Surrealista de Lisboa" with Mário Cesariny, António Dacosta, Vespeira and others) and by Lima de  Freitas a Portuguese painter illustrator, ceramicist and writer.

«Cândido Costa Pinto» gouache works show a perfect combination between form and color and a distinctive Symbolic-Surrealistic-Fantasy style. Any of his cover works could well be (some in fact are) in any Museum. All of his cover design works were actually first made as individual paintings in gouache and then adapted to the books (which were actually read by Cândido). 

Cândido da Costa Pinto (Figueira da Foz, 1911 — 1976) was a Portuguese graphic artist and painter.

In 1931 he founded the Grupo dos Divergentes and in that decade he began to dedicate himself to graphic work.

In the 1940s 1950s and 1960s he created several covers with surrealistic images for the Colecção Argonauta, published by Livros do Brasil. He participated in the Exposição do Mundo Português, 1940; exhibited in several S.P.N./S.N.I. Modern Art Exhibitions, winning the Souza-Cardoso Prize in 1951; and participated in many other collective exhibitions, namely in the II Exposição Geral de Artes Plásticas (SNBA, 1947) and in the Venice (1950) and São Paulo (1951) Biennials. 

Book Condition:

New - A new book is unread, in print and in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages.
As New - To be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition to which it was published. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dustjacket (if it was issued with one) must be perfect, without any tears.
Fine (F or FN) - Approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp. For the use of the term Fine, there must also be no defects, etc., and if the jacket has a small tear, or other defect, or looks worn, this should be noted.
Very Good (VG) - Describes a book that does show some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or paper. Any defects must be noted.
Good (G) - Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted.
Fair - Worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects must be noted.
Poor - Describes a book that is sufficiently worn, to the point that its only merit is as a Reading Copy because it does have the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc