[SCIENCE FICTION DIGEST]. Cosmos. Jamaica, NY: Science Fiction Digest Co., 1933-35.

12 issues (of 17) in 12 original parts, 8vo. Original pictorial wrapper by Hannes Bok in red (toning, rubbing, chipping, staple holes). Includes duplicates of parts 5, 10, 13-17. Provenance: Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008), American editor, magazine publisher, and science fiction author; acquired by the present owner directly from Ackerman.

FIRST EDITION. Cosmos was a serial novel in 17 chapters written by 17 different authors, among them John W. Campbell, Ralph Milne Farley, Edmond Hamilton, P. Schuyler Miller, and Raymond A. Palmer. Each individual part was included in a different issue of Science Fiction Digest (later Fantasy), with the pictorial wrapper by Hannes Bok included with the final chapter. It was printed monthly from July 1933 to January 1935 at the back of each issue, though later individual chapters were made available to buy on their own. Though not a particularly successful venture (described by Forrest J. Ackerman as “the world’s most fabulous serial” and alternately by Don Wilson as “a failure, miserable and near-complete”), Cosmos was one of the earliest examples of the “round-robin” style of writing in the science fiction genre.

[With]: PALMER, Raymond A. (1910-1977), et al. (eds.). Science Fiction Digest. Vol I., nos. 1, 2, 6, 11. Brooklyn: Science Fiction Digest, 1932-33. 4 issues, 8vo. Original printed wrappers (toning, rubbing, chipping). Includes duplicate of issue 11. FIRST EDITIONS. Science Fiction Digest was the brainchild of Palmer, Forrest J. Ackerman, and Conrad Ruppert, with their primary audience being fellow science fiction fans. It was retitled Fantasy in January 1934 and would fold completely at the end of that year.