Ray Bradbury, a lifelong advocate for free speech, published his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 in 1953 out of material he had developed for a couple of years prior. It depicts a society in which books are illegal and "firemen" are not people who put out fires, but people who burn books. The novel was an enormous success at its outset and remains popular to this day.
That prompt success at publication led Bradbury to issue a 200-copy special edition made with asbestos covers--thus making them resistant to burning--and autographed.
Copies are quite rare. This one on eBay is priced at $45,000.
-via reddit
