Which Narnia book was published first in 1950?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first published Narnia book, appearing in 1950.

Written by C.S. Lewis, the novel introduces the Pevensie children, the land of Narnia, the White Witch, and Aslan. Its story begins when Lucy discovers a passage through a wardrobe into a snowy world. The book was published in London by Geoffrey Bles on 16 October 1950.

The publication order differs from the internal chronological order of Narnia’s history. The Magician’s Nephew describes events before the Pevensie adventure, but it was published later, in 1955. Many modern editions number it first because they use chronological story order.

That numbering creates a frequent source of confusion. “First Narnia book” can mean first published or earliest in the fictional timeline. For publication history, the answer is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.