The Bodley Head, London, 1945
Stated First Edition, First printing Beautiful clean book with a near fine unclipped dust jacket. This title is the third novel in the C.S.Lewis’s iconic ‘Space Trilogy’, which he referred to as “a modern fairy tale for grown-ups”
The book is in near fine condition with crisp black cloth boards. Faded gilt titles to spine, and a faint hint of rubbing to the boards. The book has sharp corners and no edgewear. The binding is tight and square. The end papers are in clean condition with but the number “1945” delicately placed in ink. Otherwise No owner names, no bookplates, no inscriptions no bookstore stamps. The internal pages are clean, bright and flat with no stains, no marks, no foxing, no writing, and no bent pages. Very clean, crisp book, appearing as unread. This is most unusual for this title as the paper used was cheap wartime paper which tore easily and is very fragile. Please see images.
The original dust jacket has benefited from some slight restoration and as such and presents as a near fine example. The jacket has strong vibrant colors with some of the common sunning to the spine, otherwise no edgewear, no rips, no chips, no tears, no rubbing, no fading and no foxing. Archival repair to intact tear to the rear panel. The jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of 9s 6d. net. The jacket is now protected in a new clear removable archival cover. Please see detailed images. Note- most all the other first printings on the market come with a heavily price clipped jacket. This is because the later printings all would state ‘Second Printing or Third Printing” along the lower edge of the front flap. The only way to ensure you have a first printing jacket is to have it be NOT clipped.
A very handsome example of this scarce C.S. Lewis title in beautiful clean collectible condition.
