This is a complete four-volume limited edition set of The Science of Life, a first edition set that is number 264 of 750 sets that were printed, and the first volume is signed on the limitation page by the three authors, H G Wells, Julian Huxley, and G P Wells.  

Size: (each) 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. 

The set is quarter bound in blue cloth with a vertical gilt rule on the covers and the signature of H G Wells stamped in gilt on the front covers, there are blank endpapers, a pencil note on the front flyleaf of the first volume says “4 vol. complete, signed by each author”, then the limitation page which says there were only 750 sets of this title printed, each set consists of four volumes, the first volume of each set is numbered and signed by the authors, this set is number 264, and it is signed by H G Wells, Julian Huxley, and G P Wells. That is followed by the hale-tile, a list of some of the books by H G Wells and Julian Huxley, then a colored frontis and the title page, which says the set was published by Doubleday Doran in 1931, the copyright page says 1931, first edition at the bottom, and the top edges are gilt.  

Each volume has a paper label on the spine, a colored frontis, a title page, then three pages   of Contents, a List of Half-Tone Illustrations, numerous illustrations and photographs, and an Index in the last volume which is expansive - it runs from page 1479 to 1514. The first volume has 373 pages of text, the second volume has 400 pages of text (374 - 773), the third volume runs from 773 to 1146 - yes, we checked - and the last volume runs from 1147 to 1478, followed by the Index.   

H. G. Wells had begun the book during his wife's final illness and is said to have used work on the book as a way to keep his mind off his loss, and he needs no introduction here.  

Julian Huxley (1887 - 1975) was an English evolutionary biologist and a founding member of the World Wildlife Fund. In 1927, Huxley gave up his chair of Zoology at King’s College in London to concentrate on the work.  

G P Wells (1901 - 1985), George Philip Wells, also known as GIP,  was a British zoologist and the son of H G Wells, and he co-authored this title along with his father and Julian Huxley.    

The book was originally serialized in 31 parts by Amalgamated Press in 1929 - 1930 and bound up in three volumes as publication proceeded, and this set was published in 1931. It includes more than 300 illustrations and was a great success, even though the stock market crash and subsequent depression held back sales. 

Book Four (The How and Why of Development and Evolution) is said to offer “perhaps the clearest, most readable, succinct and … popular account of the subject ever penned. It was here that [Huxley] first expounded his own version of what later developed into the evolutionary synthesis". 

The books measure 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches wide and are in very good condition, with tight bindings and clean pages and text. The paper labels and spines have darkened a bit, there are light blemishes on the outside covers and light rubbing at the heels, and light rubbing at some tips, the inside pages, text, and illustrations are very clean, and overall an attractive set that is signed by H G Wells, Huxley, and Wells’ son.  

We found only two sets of the limited edition listed online. One goes for $600 and the other for $2200, and the $600 set has wear, browning, and foxing inside. So a bargain for this limited edition set signed by Wells, Huxley, and the son of HG.  

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