#1 in the Tom Swift Jr. series. Grosset and Dunlap hardcover publication. Copyright 1954. Print year estimated at 1958, based on initial publication dates of #11 Deep-Sea Hydrodome (1958), listed as the last title on the rear jacket flap, and on #12 Race to the Moon (1958) on the internal book list. Author "Victor Appleton II." Victor Appleton the first was the Stratemeyer Syndicate pen name for the initial Tom Swift series. Very nice blue tweed book with sturdy spine and hinges. Blue and white space lab endpapers. "100100" designation on upper right corner of dust jacket front flap. Clean page blocks. Pretty good wrap-around dust jacket with wear and chipping at spine top and bottom (see pictures), and closed tear near fold of rear dust jacket. In this one, Tom develops a three-story nuclear-powered craft coated with Tomasite, a tough light-weight plastic that can absorb most cosmic rays. It can cruise at 1200 miles per hour. Note to New York state residents: an 8.75% sales tax is applicable. (TSB1)