The points of issue
First UK edition 1933 (Dent); Lewis's first published prose fiction. Original cloth; no later-impression statement on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
The Dent London 1933 edition is the true first. Dent sold the rights to Sheed and Ward, which issued a London second edition and a New York first American edition, both 1935. Scarce in jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The revised 1943 Geoffrey Bles edition, with a new preface and added running headlines, is a distinct text.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Pilgrim's Regress a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First UK edition 1933 (Dent); Lewis's first published prose fiction. Original cloth; no later-impression statement on the copyright page.
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 Dent London 1933 edition is the true first. Dent sold the rights to Sheed and Ward, which issued a London second edition and a New York first American edition, both 1935. Scarce in jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The revised 1943 Geoffrey Bles edition, with a new preface and added running headlines, is a distinct text.
I have a first edition of The Pilgrim's Regress — 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.