Hawking (Stephen) A Brief History of Time, signed with author's thumb-print and with ink inscription reading "Thumb-print of S.W. Hawking witnessed by Susan Maseby" on title, light water-staining to upper corners of first few leaves, original wrappers, a couple of creases to upper cover, light rubbing to extremities, 8vo, 1995.*** The current owner used to attend the same canteen in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics in Silver Street, Cambridge, as Hawking himself did in the 1990s and early 2000s. As the owner was reading one of Hawking's books, one staff member offered to have it thumb-printed by the professor. The owner duly brought in the book and, after a couple of months, the staff member returned the book with the authenticated thumb print.