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Capek, Karel (1890-1938) Rossum's Universal Robots.
Prague: Aventinum, 1920.
First edition, octavo; text in Czech; rebound in quarter morocco over marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine (a few small spots, ink ownership stamp to title; boards slightly bowed); 8 x 5 1/2 in.
Capek's important play introduced the word "robot" to the English language and all of science fiction for the very first time. Originally coined by Karel's brother Josef, the word is derived from the Slavic robot- which denotes an association with oppressive labor. It replaced older terms such as "automaton" and "android" to favor a meaning which stresses the machine's purpose as "invented by humans to help in their endeavors." See Ivan Margolius's The Robot of Prague.
