The Last Battle, A Story for Children by C. S. Lewis, Illustrated and Signed by Pauline Baynes, First Printing, 1956

Lewis, C. S. The Last Battle, A Story for Children. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1956. First U.S. edition, first printing. Octavo. In the original publisher's blue cloth boards, embossed in black, and the original illustrated dust jacket. Presented with an additional publisher’s card, signed by the illustrator. 

This is the first American edition, first printing of The Last Battle, A Story for Children, the seventh and final installment in C. S. Lewis’ classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. This American first printing was published by The Macmillan Company in 1956. The book is presented in the original publisher’s blue cloth hardcover boards, pictorially stamped in black, and the original illustrated blue dust jacket. Inside, the book is decorated with charming illustrations by Pauline Bayes. The book is presented with an additional publisher’s card, signed by Bayes in blue ink ballpoint. 

The Last Battle was the final book published in C.S. Lewis’ hugely successful children’s fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  The book begins with Ape convincing the donkey Puzzle to dress in a lion's skin, so as to pass off as a fake Aslan and command everyone to work for the cruel Calormenes. Jill and Eustace return once again to Narnia to help stand with King Tirian against the forces of evil, ultimately culminating in the final battle for the fate of Narnia. 

The Last Battle was published first in London by Bodley Head, on September 4, 1956. Later that same year, Macmillan Company issued the first American edition. The Last Battle won the 1956 Carnegie Medal, for “an outstanding book for children written in English and published initially in the United Kingdom.” Upon news of the win, Lewis wrote to illustrator Baynes, "is it not rather 'our' medal? I'm sure the illustrations were taken into account as well as the text." Since their initial publications, the Chronicles of Narnia have sold more than 100 million copies and are beloved by readers all over the world.

CONDITION:

Good condition. Octavo, hardcover. In the original dust jacket. The dust jacket is light blue, with black and white titles, brown and white and blue illustration of a queen and a centaur on the front panel, black and white titles to the spine, and a small oval illustration of a unicorn on the back, printed in black, white and blue. In the original blue cloth boards with pictorial black embossing to the front board and black embossed titles to the spine. Wear and bumping, small splits, and creasing to dust jacket. Clean boards.  The book has wear from gentle reading, the paper is generally clean. With illustrations by Pauline Baynes. 174 pp. Presented with an additional publisher’s card, signed by the illustrator in blue ink ballpoint pen. Signature is legible, without fading. 

Dimensions: 8 1/4" H x 5 5/8" W x 3/4" D

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.