Charity Volunteers Find Rare Narnia First Edition

This would be one amazing find, as The Last Battle is my favorite book in the series. A first edition of the book has been discovered by a pair of charity bookshop volunteers. Christine and Robert Williams were sorting through a delivery of donations to the National Trust’s second-hand bookshop at Mottisfont and came across a copy of the book. Small, hardcovered, complete with a beautifully illustrated dust jacket. The book was published in 1956 and could be worth as much as £1,000.

This book is, of course, the last book in the series, and won C.S. Lewis the Carnegie Medal.

“I think we knew we had something special as soon as we picked the book up,” says Christine.

“It was in excellent condition, though obviously quite old, with the most beautiful images on the jacket and inside. When we realised it was not a re-print, we were pretty excited!”

The book will be up for auction through Woolley & Wallis at Salisbury on June 17 (lot 33). It is estimated to be valued between £700 – £1,000.

The auction house is kindly waiving its usual fees, and the sale proceeds will go towards Mottisfont’s ongoing programme of conservation. For further details, contact Woolley & Wallis on 01722 424500 or visit www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk.