Exploration of the Moon (1954)

This is one of the great "lost" picture books. R.A. Smith was an amazing artist and an early member of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS). He work with AC Clarke to illustrate what will be our future on the moon. There is a full page painting to go with each page of text in the book. Most of the painting were reproduced in B&W but there were a few color plates. A beautiful (and inspirational) book.

Clarke, Arthur C. Illustrated by Smith, R. A. The Exploration of the Moon. London : Frederick Muller Ltd. / New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers. (112 p.) 26 cm. Cloth, DJ.

The color paintings are wonderful and it is a shame the entire book couldn't be color. Also a 1954 US edition with the same text and all black and white illustrations (no color) with a different cover from the UK edition.