The points of issue
First UK edition 1952; combines and revises the three earlier 'Broadcast Talks' books with new preface. Original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement.
Is this the true first?
UK Bles true first; US Macmillan 1952 follows.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ; the wartime constituent volumes are separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Mere Christianity a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition 1952; combines and revises the three earlier 'Broadcast Talks' books with new preface. Original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement.
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 true first; US Macmillan 1952 follows.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ; the wartime constituent volumes are separate.
I have a first edition of Mere Christianity — 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.