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 is a valuable saga for several different reasons beside its literary qualities. It contains traditions of wars between Goths and Huns, from the 4th century, and the last part is used as a source for Swedish medieval history. Moreover, it was an important source of inspiration for Tolkien when shaping his legends of Middle-earth.

There is much in this saga that readers of Tolkien's work will recognize. There are for instance Rohirrim, brave shieldmaidens, Mirkwood, haunted barrows yielding enchanted swords, a mithril mailcoat, an epic battle, a flaming sword and two Dwarves named Dwalin and Durin. J. R. R. Tolkien's youngest son, Christopher, translated the work in 1960, entitling his version The Saga of King Heidrek the Wise.

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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