The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: A Celebration of the First Edition, by C. S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes.
1953
William Collins and Sons purchases the religious publishing firm of Geoffrey Bles Ltd., gaining the rights to the works of C. S. Lewis, including his Chronicles of Narnia fantasy books. The Chronicles of Narnia series goes on to sell more than 100 million copies, in addition to spawning a BBC television series and three major movie productions.
