The points of issue
UK first: The Bodley Head, London, 1956, illustrated by Pauline Baynes; the seventh and final Narnia title, published under the Bodley Head imprint (not Geoffrey Bles). The true first shows no impression or reprint statement on the verso of the title page, and the first-issue jacket carries no Carnegie Medal notation, since the award was announced after publication.
Is this the true first?
The UK Bodley Head edition is the true first, preceding the US Macmillan edition issued the same year (1956).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Carnegie Medal seal or notation on the jacket indicates a later printing, since the medal was awarded after first publication. Later impressions also add a verso impression note. The US Macmillan edition is a distinct publication, not the UK first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Last Battle a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK first: The Bodley Head, London, 1956, illustrated by Pauline Baynes; the seventh and final Narnia title, published under the Bodley Head imprint (not Geoffrey Bles). The true first shows no impression or reprint statement on the verso of the title page, and the first-issue jacket carries no Carnegie Medal notation, since the award was announced after publication.
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. The UK Bodley Head edition is the true first, preceding the US Macmillan edition issued the same year (1956).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Carnegie Medal seal or notation on the jacket indicates a later printing, since the medal was awarded after first publication. Later impressions also add a verso impression note. The US Macmillan edition is a distinct publication, not the UK first.
I have a first edition of The Last Battle — 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.