Smith of Wootton Major — First Edition, First Impression (1967) — First State — With Custom Slipcase

Smith of Wootton Major by J.R.R. Tolkien.
George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London, 1967.

First Edition, First Impression — First State binding.

This is the true first appearance in book form of Tolkien’s late fairy-tale Smith of Wootton Major, first published in Great Britain on 9 November 1967. The story was followed later that same month by its American appearance in Redbook magazine.

The sheets of the First Impression were bound in at least two batches using slightly different case designs. This example is the earlier and preferred first state, with a solid black background to the binding (without the later white borders to the top and bottom edges and spine).

Illustrated throughout by Pauline Baynes.

The imprint page (as photographed) reads:
First Published in 1967.
© George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1967.
Printed in Great Britain in 11 point Garamond type by Unwin Brothers Ltd, Woking and London.
No ISBN issued (as correct for the 1967 first edition).

This copy is housed in a custom-made black slipcase, finished in a leather-style material and decorated in gilt with Tolkien’s monogram to the front. The slipcase provides both protection and an elegant presentation, complementing the original design of the volume.

Condition:
A well-preserved and attractive example. The binding remains firm and square. The dust jacket shows honest age-related wear, with rubbing to edges and minor handling marks, as visible in the photographs. The pages are clean overall, with light natural toning and occasional foxing to the preliminaries, typical for the period. No ownership inscriptions are visible in the photographed pages. The custom slipcase is in very good condition and presents beautifully.

A desirable copy of Tolkien’s classic late fairy-tale, in the correct first state of the first edition, enhanced by a custom presentation slipcase.

Photographs shown are of the exact copy offered.

Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions.

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