The points of issue
First UK edition, London 1945; original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement. Space Trilogy vol. 3; produced under War Economy standards and not reprinted until 1946.
Is this the true first?
UK Bodley Head true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1946. The Tortured Planet is a later abridged text (Lewis's own abridgement, Avon paperback) and is not the first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and the abridged text differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of That Hideous Strength a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition, London 1945; original cloth, dust jacket; no later-impression statement. Space Trilogy vol. 3; produced under War Economy standards and not reprinted until 1946.
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 Bodley Head true first; US Macmillan edition follows in 1946. The Tortured Planet is a later abridged text (Lewis's own abridgement, Avon paperback) and is not the first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and the abridged text differ.
I have a first edition of That Hideous Strength — 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.