The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury New York: First Avon edition. Number sequence starts with ?1?. 1997 New updated material in this edition not found in the original Doubleday first edition. I presented this book to Ray Bradbury for his signature and all important 1997 date back in 1997. Note the wonderful embossment on the grunt cover of Ray Bradbury?s name. As new copy kept in storage. This copy is as good as it gets. This is Ray Bradbury?s masterpiece with many textual changes made for this edition by Ray Bradbury that were not in the first Doubleday edition. Thus, this Avon first printing with the publication date of 1997 by Ray Bradbury as well as his signature on the title page makes this a very collectible book. Finding such a book in this mint condition is now uncommon, and if located will command a higher price.