The points of issue
First edition published by Oxford University Press, London, 1939; Lewis's first essay collection, nine essays. Original cloth in dust jacket; title page dated 1939 with no reprint statement on the verso.
Is this the true first?
UK Oxford true first; scarce, and Oxford did not reprint the collection in this form, so genuine copies are all first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The essays were later dispersed into other Lewis collections rather than reissued under this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Rehabilitations and Other Essays a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition published by Oxford University Press, London, 1939; Lewis's first essay collection, nine essays. Original cloth in dust jacket; title page dated 1939 with no reprint 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 Oxford true first; scarce, and Oxford did not reprint the collection in this form, so genuine copies are all first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The essays were later dispersed into other Lewis collections rather than reissued under this title.
I have a first edition of Rehabilitations and Other Essays — 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.