The points of issue
First UK edition, Faber and Faber, 1961, published under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk; slim octavo in publisher's grey cloth lettered in gilt, dust jacket; no later-impression statement on the verso.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber true first, as by N. W. Clerk; the US Seabury Press edition followed in 1963. The pseudonymous first issue with the Clerk attribution is the key collectible point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Posthumous editions credit Lewis by name.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Grief Observed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, Faber and Faber, 1961, published under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk; slim octavo in publisher's grey cloth lettered in gilt, dust jacket; no later-impression statement on the verso.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Faber true first, as by N. W. Clerk; the US Seabury Press edition followed in 1963. The pseudonymous first issue with the Clerk attribution is the key collectible point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Posthumous editions credit Lewis by name.
I have a first edition of A Grief Observed — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.