The Silmarillion — 1977 First UK Impression in Custom Slipcase

First UK Edition, First Impression — 1977

Published in London by George Allen & Unwin in 1977, this is the first impression of the UK domestic edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, edited by Christopher Tolkien. The copyright page states “First published in 1977”, with no later impression listed, and gives ISBN 0 04 823139 8. Printed in Great Britain by offset lithography by Billing & Sons Ltd, Guildford, London and Worcester.

This is the domestic issue in the publisher’s dark blue cloth, with gilt spine lettering and a blue top edge, retaining its original dust jacket priced £4.95 on the front flap. The jacket reproduces Tolkien’s heraldic designs: the device of Lúthien Tinúviel on the front, with those of Fingolfin, Eärendil, Idril Celebrindal, Elwë and Fëanor on the rear.

Text and Maps

The volume brings together Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age. Genealogical tables, an index of names and an appendix on elements in Quenya and Sindarin names accompany the text.

The map of The Realms of the Noldor and the Sindar faces page 120 in this first impression; it was moved to face page 128 in subsequent impressions. Christopher Tolkien’s folding map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North is attached at the rear. The folding map is present in this copy and is photographed folded.

Custom Slipcase

A later black custom slipcase, decorated in gilt with Tolkien’s monogram on one face and a heraldic emblem on the other, accompanies the volume. It is an added protective case, separate from the publisher’s original binding and jacket.

Condition

A very nicely preserved copy, with light handling wear to the original blue cloth and jacket. The gilt spine lettering remains bright. The jacket spine retains its original colour, without the fading so often seen on this edition. There is slight wear and crimping at the jacket extremities; the original £4.95 price remains intact and the jacket is protected by a clear sleeve.

The paper and page edges show age-toning, more apparent at the fore-edge and around the margins of the free endpapers, with an occasional small brown spot. A handwritten gift inscription dated Christmas 1978 is on the front free endpaper. The photographed text openings are generally clean. The folding map remains attached at the rear. The custom slipcase is very well preserved, with a little surface dust.

Bibliographical reference: Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, p. 221.

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