The points of issue
First UK edition 1944; slim 64-page volume of the BBC radio talks, original pale yellow cloth with spine lettered in blue. Later incorporated into Mere Christianity (1952).
Is this the true first?
UK Bles/Centenary Press true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1945.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Text superseded by Mere Christianity; the 1944 first stands as a distinct earlier state.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Beyond Personality a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition 1944; slim 64-page volume of the BBC radio talks, original pale yellow cloth with spine lettered in blue. Later incorporated into Mere Christianity (1952).
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 Bles/Centenary Press true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1945.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Text superseded by Mere Christianity; the 1944 first stands as a distinct earlier state.
I have a first edition of Beyond Personality — 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.