# Is "They Asked for a Paper: Papers and Addresses" by C.S. Lewis a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of They Asked for a Paper: Papers and Addresses by C.S. Lewis (Geoffrey Bles, 1962) is identified by: First edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1962; octavo, pp. UK Geoffrey Bles true first, published 26 February 1962; the last of Lewis's books published in his lifetime (he died 22 November 1963).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1962; octavo, pp
- 211[1]; a collection of twelve papers and addresses
- Bound in original tan cloth, the spine lettered in dark blue, with light blue endpapers
- Issued in a brown typographic printed dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey
- The jacket should retain its printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Geoffrey Bles
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | C.S. Lewis |
| Publisher | Geoffrey Bles |
| Year | 1962 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1962; octavo, pp |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, Geoffrey Bles, 1962; octavo, pp. 211[1]; a collection of twelve papers and addresses. Bound in original tan cloth, the spine lettered in dark blue, with light blue endpapers. Issued in a brown typographic printed dust jacket designed by Michael Harvey. The jacket should retain its printed price.

## Is this the true first?
UK Geoffrey Bles true first, published 26 February 1962; the last of Lewis's books published in his lifetime (he died 22 November 1963).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Contents overlap later gatherings of Lewis's addresses, but this 1962 Bles volume is the first appearance of the collection as assembled.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *They Asked for a Paper: Papers and Addresses* by C.S. Lewis a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/they-asked-for-a-paper-papers-and-addresses
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.