Heidreks Saga, Copenhagen 1924, J.R.R. Tolkien's Signed Copy

Hervarar Saga ok Heidreks Konungs, edited by Jon Helgason. Copenhagen, 1924.

From Tolkien's personal scholarly library, with his pencil signature.

Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks (The Saga of Hervar and Heidrek) is a legendary saga from the 13th century combining matter from several older sagas. It contains traditions of wars between Goths and Huns and material relevant to Swedish medieval history. Its themes invite comparison with Tolkien's legends of Middle-earth; direct inspiration is not established here.

Readers of Tolkien may find parallels here with the horse-riding Rohirrim, shieldmaidens, dark forests, haunted barrows, enchanted swords and precious mail. These are literary comparisons, not claims that Tolkien's names or mithril occur literally in the saga, or that direct inspiration is established. Christopher Tolkien published his translation as The Saga of King Heidrek the Wise in 1960.

This copy belonged to Tolkien's working library and bears his undated pencil signature on the front free endpaper. The 1924 publication date does not establish when he signed it. Issued for Samfund til Udgivelse af Gammel Nordisk Litteratur and printed by J. Jørgensen & Co., Copenhagen, it contains the saga text and a Danish introduction. Additional pencil identification notes on the front pastedown are not attributed to Tolkien.

Reddish-brown cloth with gilt spine lettering and series number XLVIII. Rubbing, surface scuffs and small marks to the boards, minor corner and spine-end wear, and a faded spine. Toning and scattered foxing to the page edges, endpapers and preliminary leaves, particularly the title page.

A signed saga volume from Tolkien's personal scholarly library.

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