The Road Goes Ever On — J.R.R. Tolkien and Donald Swann — First UK Edition, First Printing, 1968

The first British edition of Tolkien and Swann's landmark song cycle, retaining the original 30s. dust jacket decorated throughout with Tolkien's own Elvish calligraphy.

Published by George Allen & Unwin in London in February 1968, this is the first UK edition and first printing of The Road Goes Ever On. It followed Houghton Mifflin's American issue of October 1967. The cream boards and matching original dust jacket are printed in red and black with Tolkien's Tengwar and Elvish script; the front flap retains the original price of 30s. net.

Donald Swann's score sets seven poems by J.R.R. Tolkien for voice and piano, including The Road Goes Ever On, Namárië, I Sit Beside the Fire and Think and Errantry. Tolkien contributed the decorated script, Elvish texts, translations and notes, making the volume at once a musical score and an unusually direct presentation of his invented languages and calligraphy.

Condition: A good copy in its original price-unclipped dust jacket, protected by a clear wrapper. A gift inscription and an old pencil price are present on the front free endpaper. Age-toning and spotting are visible, with rubbing, creasing and wear to the jacket edges, including small chips and tears. The jacket retains its printed price of 30s. net. The photographs show the exact copy offered and the visible wear.

A price-intact first UK printing whose original jacket displays Tolkien's calligraphy as the British publisher first presented it in 1968.