Lewis's 'Last Battle' Lost
01 Jun, 2009
An
unexpected treasure, discovered by two sharp-eyed volunteers in the
National Trust's second-hand bookshop at Mottisfont, is being sold
in Woolley and Wallis's next book auction.
Christine
and Robert Williams are keen amateur antiquarians who run the shop,
came across a small, hardback book, complete with beautifully
illustrated dust jacket, when sorting through the latest box of
donations. What they had uncovered was a rare 1956 first edition of
the children's novel, The Last Battle, by C.S.
Lewis. Featuring some of C.S. Lewis's best-loved
characters, this book is the last of the famous Narnia
chronicles and won the author the Carnegie Medal. It is illustrated
by Pauline Baynes, who was also J.R.R. Tolkien's chosen
illustrator.
"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 realized it was
not a re-print, we were pretty excited!"
Founding members of Mottisfont's thriving second-hand bookshop,
Christine and Robert are self-taught book valuers, but sought
professional verification of their find from Woolley and
Wallis, who are now selling the volume on 17th June (lot
33)
with an estimate of £700 - £1,000. The book is being sold to
raise money for Mottisfont's ongoing programme of
conservation.