# Is "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis (Geoffrey Bles, 1960) is identified by: First UK edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1960; publisher's grey cloth lettered in red, pictorial dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey; verso states first publication in 1960 with no later impressions listed. UK Geoffrey Bles true first, published March 1960; the US Harcourt Brace edition followed later the same year.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1960; publisher's grey cloth lettered in red, pictorial dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey; verso states first publication in 1960 with no later impressions listed
- Publisher imprint reads Geoffrey Bles
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | C.S. Lewis |
| Publisher | Geoffrey Bles |
| Year | 1960 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1960; publisher's grey cloth lettered in red, pictorial dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey; verso… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First UK edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1960; publisher's grey cloth lettered in red, pictorial dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey; verso states first publication in 1960 with no later impressions listed.

## Is this the true first?
UK Geoffrey Bles true first, published March 1960; the US Harcourt Brace edition followed later the same year.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings list additional impressions on the verso; book club and later reprints differ.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Four Loves* by C.S. Lewis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-four-loves
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.