Published by Geoffrey Bles: The Centenary Press, 37 Essex Street, Strand, London, 1944
Language: English
Seller: Orlando Booksellers, Lincoln, United Kingdom
First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. A fifth printing of the true first edition, published in December 1944. With a one-page preface written by C.S. Lewis at Magdalen College, Oxford on 6th April 1942 to the fore. The book was first published in July 1942, and reprinted in January, September and December 1943, before this fifth printing. ***A near fine copy in pale yellow cloth-covered boards, with red titles to the front board and no titles on the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked, having been protected by the dustwrapper since 1944. The fragile spine is flat and completely undamaged. Tail of spine slightly creased. The boards are very thin as they had to conform to wartime publishing restrictions, and this copy has absolutely straight boards. No tears to the cloth. Corners sharp. Internally the book is also near fine, with a neat ownership name and a couple of old bookseller's prices to the front free endpaper (please see scans). The wartime paper is very clean, and still white, and there is none of the usual offsetting or foxing to the pastedowns. There is a no reading lean to the fragile binding. Spine tight. ***In a near fine original fragile red and white printed dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 2s. 6d. net. The dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just some very slight loss at the top and bottom of the spine which does not affect the lettering. No chips or tears and hardly any edge creasing. The wear is far less than usual considering the age and fragility of the book, which was produced to war economy standards. The dustwrapper has none of the usual browning found with books of this age - the red titles on the spine are just gently faded. The large inner flaps are completely clean and uncreased - with 'Fifth Edition' correctly printed at the top of the front flap (meaning fifth printing). ***187mm x127mm. 62 pages. ***Contents: Part I. Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe; Part II. What Christians Believe. ***We have never read arguments better marshalled or handled so that they can be remembered, or any book more useful to the Christian.' - The Tablet. ***'Brilliant little essays.' - The Guardian (Review quotes taken from the inside front flap of the dustwrapper) ***An early fifth wartime printing of "Broadcast Talks", in its original dustwrapper in really beautiful condition. A very fragile book with thin boards and a fragile thin dustwrapper. It is almost impossible to find copies of this wartime publication in the original dustwrapper in such nice collectable condition now. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.