The points of issue
First UK edition 1947; original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement. First-issue text carries the original chapter 3, titled The Self-Contradiction of the Naturalist.
Is this the true first?
UK Bles true first; US Macmillan edition also 1947. Lewis rewrote chapter 3 for the 1960 revised edition following the Anscombe debate.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Revised 1960 text is distinct; the original chapter 3 title identifies the unrevised first-edition text.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Miracles: A Preliminary Study a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition 1947; original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement. First-issue text carries the original chapter 3, titled The Self-Contradiction of the Naturalist.
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 edition also 1947. Lewis rewrote chapter 3 for the 1960 revised edition following the Anscombe debate.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Revised 1960 text is distinct; the original chapter 3 title identifies the unrevised first-edition text.
I have a first edition of Miracles: A Preliminary Study — 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.