MIRACLES: A Preliminary Study [First edition - first printing - with period ephemera

C. S. Lewis (Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford)

Published by Geoffrey Bles, The Centenary Press, 52 Doughty Street, London, 1947

First printing of the true first edition, with no mention of other printings on the printer's page. This copy comes with some interesting ephemera from the period loosely inserted: A double-sided typed extract from "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck; a portrait photograph of the book's owner (Jo) with 'Eastbourne, June 17th 1947' on the back; and a Christian Fellowship bookmark. The book is inscribed 'Loving thoughts of June 27th 1946 from Jo 27-6-47' on the front free endpaper (see photo scans). ***Near fine in green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper, although the spine colour has faded to grey over time. The boards are clean and unmarked - just slight rubbing to the cloth at the edges. No bumps or creases. Corners sharp. No reading lean to the binding and no reading creases to the spine. Spine tight. Page block edges clean, with none of the usual foxing to the fore-edge - just darkened at the top edge. Internally also near fine, with the inscription and enclosed ephemera as mentioned. No other annotations. Some offsetting to the endpapers but no internal foxing. Pages clean and unmarked. Thin paper used after the Second World War, but no tears or creases. ***In a very good black printed and green-bordered plain cream dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 10s. 6d. net to the front flap. The dustwrapper is complete with just the tiniest loss and rubbing to the top and tail of the spine of the dustwrapper. The dustwrapper has some marks and browning, but is extremely well-preserved for its age. The spine of the dustwrapper is slightly browned and discoloured. ***224mm x 140mm. 220 pages including a four-page index at the back of the book. ***''The purpose of this book is to shift the question of probability from the unconscious to the conscious plane, and its main argument is directed to embattling the eighteenth and nineteenth century assumption against the miraculous. ***But, in the course of this, many subordinate questions are raised - the definition of "Nature," the rival conceptions of her Laws, the different meanings of the word Probability, the status of metaphor and symbol, the imaginative elements in Naturalism, and the antagonism between Christianity and mere "religion." The Incarnation is treated as the central, the only, Christian miracle, apart from which the others have no significance.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) *** First printing of the true first edition, printed on thin paper, and in its original thin fragile dustwrapper - very hard to find in such nice bright collectable condition. The green boards are bright and clean and the gilt titles especially bright (usually oxidized with age). A superior copy, and with the additional enclosed ephemera from the period. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 8934

Bibliographic Details

Title: MIRACLES: A Preliminary Study [First edition...
Publisher: Geoffrey Bles, The Centenary Press, 52 Doughty Street, London
Publication Date: 1947
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
Edition: First Edition