THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS (First edition - a rare second printing in a complete wartime dustwrapper)

A rare example of the second printing of the true first edition, published just one month after the first printing, in March 1942. The book was first published in February 1942, and became something of a bestseller, eventually going into many further reprintings during the 1940s. The cream printed dustwrapper design was eventually replaced by a newly designed dark-blue dustwrapper by around the 13th printing in 1944. With a two-page preface by C. S. Lewis written July 5th, 1941 to the fore. ***A very good copy in black cloth-covered boards with a paper label to the spine. The boards are beautifully clean and undamaged, having been protected by the dustwrapper since 1942. The paper label is also beautifully clean, complete without any damage. The fragile cloth of the spine is undamaged. The boards are thin as the publishers had to conform to wartime publishing restrictions, but this copy has absolutely straight boards with no warping - just a very slight reading lean. Spine tight. No tears to the cloth. Corners sharp. Edges of page block clean. Internally the book is also very good, with a neat ownership name at the top of the front free endpaper in pencil. The wartime paper is very clean, and still white, and there is none of the usual foxing or offsetting to the pastedowns. The interior would be described as near fine, but for a couple of top page corners which have been turned over by the original owner - not too noticeable (please see scans). No other creases or tears. There are also some very small marks in soft pencil in the margins (these could easily be rubbed out if required). ***In a very good original printed dustwrapper, which correctly states 'Second Edition' at the top of the front flap, and which retains the original printed price of 5s. net at the bottom corner of the front flap. The dustwrapper is the most complete example from this period that we have come across, with just slight loss at the top and tail of the spine, and top corner tips. The dustwrapper is only slightly darkened with age, mainly at the spine. No other loss or damage. Virtually no creasing. Hardly any other wear to the panels and foldovers, which are very clean. A remarkably complete dustwrapper. ***190mm x 130mm. 160 pages. ***'In this witty and profound book Mr. Lewis has written the most vital restatement of religious truths produced in our time, and he has found a brilliantly original form in which to do it. At every point these letters reveal a penetrating understanding of good and evil, and I do not hesitate to compare Mr. Lewis's achievement with "Pilgrim's progress."' W. J. Turner in The Spectator. ***'Brilliantly successful.' Times Lit. Supp. (Review quotes taken from the inside front flap of the dustwrapper). ***A rare second printing (published just a month after the first printing) in the original and complete printed dustwrapper. A fragile 1942 wartime book with thin boards and a very fragile thin dustwrapper. A really beautiful early copy of one of C. S. Lewis's most sought-after works. This delicate book is now over eighty years old, and copies in complete clean dustwrappers are extremely hard to find now. Copies in dustwrappers in such beautiful condition are almost impossible to find, as the wartime dustwrapper is so thin. The best and earliest copy of this landmark work that we have had the pleasure to handle. A real collector's item - exceptionally scarce in this condition, being a fragile wartime book. ***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.…