London: Harper Collins, 2014. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Edition. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Beowulf, A Translation and Commentary, Together with Sellic Spell, UK De Luxe Edition. Published by Harper Collins in 2014. From the blurb, 'The translation of Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien was an early work, very distinctive in its mode, completed in 1926: he returned to it later to make hasty corrections, but seems never to have considered its publication. This edition is twofold, for there exists an illuminating commentary on the text of the poem by the translator himself, in the written form of a series of lectures given at Oxford in the 1930s; and from these lectures a substantial selection has been made, to form also a commentary on the translation in this book. From his creative attention to detail in these lectures there arises a sense of the immediacy and clarity of his vision. It is as if he entered into the imagined past: standing beside Beowulf and his men shaking out their mail-shirts as they beached their ship on the coast of Denmark, listening to the rising anger of Beowulf at the taunting of Unferth, or looking up in amazement at Grendel's terrible hand set under the roof of Heorot. But the commentary in this book includes also much from those lectures in which, while always anchored in the text, he expressed his wider perceptions. He looks closely at the dragon that would slay Beowulf 'snuffling in baffled rage and injured greed when he discovers the theft of the cup'; but he rebuts the notion that this is 'a mere treasure story', 'just another dragon tale'. He turns to the lines that tell of the burying of the golden things long ago, and observes that it is 'the feeling for the treasure itself, this sad history' that raises it to another level. 'The whole thing is sombre, tragic, sinister, curiously real. The "treasure" is not just some lucky wealth that will enable the finder to have a good time, or marry the princess. It is laden with history, leading back into the dark heathen ages beyond the memory of song, but not beyond the reach of imagination' Sellic Spell, a 'marvellous tale', is a story written by Tolkien suggesting what might have been the form and style of an Old English folk-tale of Beowulf, in which there was no association with the 'historical legends' of the Northern kingdoms.' This De Luxe Edition includes the complete text and has the following special features. A colour frontispiece presenting J.R.R. Tolkien's painting of a coiled dragon together with two versions of Grendel's Mere. Quarter-bound with grey boards, stamped in gold foil with the coiled dragon motif, and housed in a matching custom-built slipcase. Printed on superior quality paper and including a silk ribbon marker. This book is a First impression in Near Fine condition, lacking the flyer/advertisement page. Has no markings, no bumped corners, no previous owners name. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2175

London: Harper Collins, 2007. Alan Lee. 1st Edition. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien, published April 2007 by Harper Collins. Signed by the illustrator, Alan Lee, on the title page. "The Children of Hurin, UK De Luxe Edition The first standalone tale of Middle-earth since 1977, and the first complete version of one of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Great Tales', with many exclusive features:" "Drawing together J.R.R. Tolkiens original manuscripts, using many sources spaced out over decades, Christopher Tolkien has constructed a narrative without any editorial invention." "Includes a brand new red and black Map of Beleriand specially drawn by Christopher Tolkien, which appears as a fold-out sheet." "Contains eight colour paintings and twenty-five pencil sketches, specially commissioned from award-winning artist, Alan Lee." "Features an exclusive colour frontispiece painting by Alan Lee." "Includes a specially written introduction and appendix on the history and writing of the tale by Christopher Tolkien." "Quarter-bound in blue with grey boards, stamped in gold foil with a unique motif of the Helm of Hador created by Alan Lee, and housed in a matching custom-built slipcase." "Printed on superior quality paper and including a silk ribbon marker." "This edition available for a limited time only." This Deluxe Edition is matched in style and design to the 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of 'The Lord of the Rings', and The Deluxe Hobbit that were concurrently issued in 2004. Soon to be augmented by the issue of a matched Deluxe Silmarillion in September 2007. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions.. Signed by Illustrator & Editor. 1st Edition. Hard Cover. As New/No Jacket, as Issued. Illus. by Alan Lee. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Item #2061

Riverside Press Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin, 1950. Pauline Baynes. 1st Edition, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Farmer Giles of Ham, The Rise and Wonderful Adventures of Farmer Giles, Lord of Tame, Count of Worminghall and King of the Little Kingdom, by J.R.R. Tolkien. This is his second major published work, preceded only by the Hobbit. Published in 1950, printed in Great Britain, this is the 1st impression of the 1st Edition, published by Houghton Mifflin. A Near Fine book, illustrated by Pauline Diane Baynes, the exterior boards show no soiling or bumped corners. The interior textblock is clean & bright, no previous owner names or any other writing. This was her first commission for Tolkien, who famously said of her Farmer Giles work, that it had "reduced {his} text to a commentary on her drawings". The book has a tight binding, no foxing or offsetting to the endpapers. There is some light fading to the spine of the original dustjacket, which is not price clipped. Near Fine condition, with some rubbing to the folds, along with a few minor closed tears to the edges, the largest one, about 15 mm's, to the top rear spine fold area. The blue and orange colors are bright and clean, no spots or soiling, just the minor fading to the spine. Textblock is clean and bright, without any foxing, no names or writing. Features two color plates by Pauline Baynes, as well as being illustrated on almost every page with her line drawings. Highly collectable, this is a lovely copy for any Tolkien fans collection. Housed in a custom blue leather slipcase, featuring the line drawing of Chrysophylax, gilt stamped to front and the JRRT Monogram to the rear. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2219

U.S.A. Houghton Mifflin, 1983. First Edition. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Finn and Hengest, The Fragment and the Episode, by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Alan Bliss. Published by Houghton Mifflin in 1983, this is the First American Edition, 1st Impression. From the blurb, Tolkien's 'most significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon studies is to be found in his lectures on the story of Finn and Hengest, two fifth-century heroes in northern Europe. The story is told in two Old English poems, Beowulf and The Fight at Finnesburg, but told so obscurely and allusively that its interpretation has been a matter of controversy for more than a hundred years. As elucidated by Tolkien the story is a classic tragedy of divided loyalties, of vengeance, blood and death; it had the added interest that the Hengest who plays the leading role in it was very probably the Hengest who led the first Germanic invasion of Britain, and that the events it describes immediately preceded that first invasion.' 'It was Professor Tolkien's own wish that the preparation for publication of his work on Finn and Hengest should be undertaken by Alan Bliss, who studied under him from 1946 to 1948. From three separate sets of lecture notes, ranging in date from before 1930 to after 1960 Professor Bliss has pieced together a coherent statement of Tolkien's latest views expressed entirely in his own words.' The book and dustjacket are both in Near Fine condition, slight bit of fading to the spine, no names, marks, or writing noted. No foxing or offsetting, with the text block clean and bright. A lovely copy for the Tolkien collector, very hard to find in this lovely condition. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2038

London: Harper Collins, 2001. J.R.R. Tolkien. Limited. Quarter Leather. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Harper Collins Publishers, the 1st printing of 2001, The Deluxe Limited Edition, limited to 1000 copies worldwide. Comprised of the middle 4 books of the History of Middle Earth Series, edited by Christopher Tolkien, and printed on India Paper. Quarter Bound in Black Leather with Gilt title, Author, Publisher and Tolkien Monogram to the spine. Matching in size and design the Harper Collins Limited Editions of the Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and The Hobbit. Has the large Tolkien Monogram to the front boards. Housed in original publishers cloth slipcase with the Tolkien Monogram on the exterior, matching the gilt design on the book. All edges gilded. An beautiful copy, pages are clean and bright, no mars to the gilded edges. Near Fine book in Near Fine slipcase, only most minor fingerprints or dustmarks noted. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #1269

London: Harper Collins, 2002. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Thus. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. History of Middle-Earth 3 Volume Box Set, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by Harper Collins in 2002, these have the full number line from 1 - 9. Edited by Christopher Tolkien, who collected the vast amount of manuscripts, maps and illustrations, left by his father and edited them into 12 volumes which were published as the History of Middle-Earth. Book I is the first five books collected into one, and represent work done during the 1920s and 30s and fully relate the early history of The Silmarillion. Book II is comprised of the middle four books, and relates the full and unique account of the creation of The Lord of the Rings. Book III is comprised of the last 3 books, and relates to the later history of the Silmarillion along with the account of writing of the Prologue and Appendices to The Lord of the Rings, that links these two works thru the historical structure of the Ages. The 3 volumes are all in Near Fine condition, in Near Fine dustjackets, now protected in archival protectors. A beautiful set, undamaged, as many were in the shipping from the publisher. A very hard to find set, let alone one with the publishers slipcase. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2165

London: Allen & Unwin, 1956. J.R.R. Tolkien. 2nd Edition. Hard Cover. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by Allen & Unwin in 1956, this is the 8th impression. The book is in Very Good Plus condition, with a moisture mark to the back panel cloth. The rest of covers are clean and unmarkedl. No previous owners names or writing noted. The second blank page has a closed tear, approximately 2 inches long, now neatly repaired. A few scattered foxing spots to the first blank page, and another shows on the title and contents page. The dustjacket is price clipped front and rear, with the publishers new price printed to the front flap. Two months into production of the 7th Impression of the Hobbits, along with the remaining original 7th Impression dustjackets, Allen & Unwin changed the price as found on this true UK 7th impression dustjacket. The jackets were price clipped -- both front and rear flap -- by Allen & Unwin publishing company itself, with their new price of 12s.6d overprinted below the impression notation on the front flap. So this copy is one with the overprinted price of 12s 6d. A bit of soiling and a small moisture mark to the flap edges and to the white areas of the dustjacket, with the spine slightly darkened. The verso of the dustjacket also shows some darkening, but does not seem to have transferred to the book itself. There is a moisture stain and some green color transferred from the books cover to the back of the dustjacket, but does not show on the exterior of the dustjacket. The back panel of the book shows the moisture mark with some color loss to the cloth. The dustjacket shows some edgewear and with minor color loss, a small closed tear to the spine fold area, with a larger chip missing at the top of the spine, and almost no loss to the bottom. Tips of the flap folds show some minor loss. The original green cloth features dark blue stamping of Tolkien's own design, the iconic Mountains and Dragon. The title verso has the full printing history up to this 8th impression of 1956. Colors are bright and the white areas are only lightly soiled, with minor tanning of the spine. Edges of the text block are clean and unfoxed, with the topstain unfaded but showing a large moisture mark. A beautiful copy, of an early printing, of this much sought after children's classic. Additional digital images are available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #1987

Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin, 1959. J.R.R. Tolkien. 2nd Edition. Original Cloth. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by Houghton Mifflin in 1959, from sheets printed in Great Britain. The book is in Near Fine condition, with no soiling to the covers. No previous owners names nor any other writing, offsetting or foxing noted. The boards are clean and bright, slightly darkened to the spine folds, no bumped corners, no other markings or shelfwear noted. The color is light green cloth with blue stamping of Title to front boards. Blue stamped Title, Dwarves Hat, Author and publisher to the spine. The title verso has the full printing history up to this Eleventh impression of 1959, and the non price clipped dustjacket is correctly marked as the 11th impression. The dustjacket is in Near Fine condition, with almost no loss or rubbing to the edges, the top and bottom of the spine show a bit of rubbing with minor color loss in a couple of spots. The dustjacket colors are bright and unsoiled, with a tiny bit of tanning to the spine. All edges of the text block are clean without any soiling for foxing marks noted. A scarce, beautiful copy, of an early American printing, with the very unusual full printing history on the title verso. A much sought after children's classic in lovely condition. Now housed in a full leather slipcase, stamped with the Mountains and Dragon to the front panel as featured on the UK books, and with the Tolkien Monogram to the rear. Additional digital images are available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2090

New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. Michael Hague. Hard Cover. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, published in 1984 by Houghton Mifflin. This one is the 3rd impression, signed by the illustrator Michael Hague to the title page. A fine example of a one of a kind, unique collectors item. No other writing or marks, virtually as new, and unread. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2210

London: Harper Collins, 2019. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Thus. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Letters From Father Christmas, the UK Deluxe Edition by J.R.R. Tolkien, published in 2019, matches in style and design the earlier Deluxe Editions issued by Harper Collins. This is the 1st printing/impression of this new edition released just in time for the Christmas Season in 2019. "Features a colour frontispiece showcasing each of the North Pole stamps that accompanied the letter from Father Christmas" "All of the paintings, drawings, letters and envelopes sent by Father Christmas reproduced in full colour, including some appearing here for the very first time." "Quarter-bound with white boards, stamped in silver foil and illustrated with Tolkien's own pictures of Father Christmas and Polar Bear." The book is housed in a matching publishers custom built illustrated slipcase, which is presented with a facsimile of one of the North Pole stamps" "Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in a strange, spidery handwriting and a beautiful colored drawing or painting. The letters were from Father Christmas. They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone North Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house into the dining room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house, and many more. No reader, young or old, can fail to be charmed by Tolkien’s inventiveness in this classic holiday treat." Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2180

London: Philip Smith, 1970. Philip Smith. Soft Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings and other Bookbindings of Philip Smith. Signed by C Philip Smith to the top of the title page. Self published in London in 1970. The first part of the book is devoted to the renowned 'Lord of the Rings Wall of Books'. Very well illustrated in black and white, with technical notes on the binding process he used. The second part of the book deals with other superb bindings by this renowned bookbinding artist. The text is by Philip Smith in English with parallel French translation. The covers are silvered card with black printing - very difficult to photograph properly. The cover show some rubbing and creasing with minor color loss at the fold area. A minor amount of edgewear, but still in Very Good condition for it's 40 years of age. No previous owners names or writing noted. A very scarce and desired book, rarely available for the collector. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #1192

London, Sydney, Wellington: Unwin Hyman, 1988. First Thus. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, One Volume Edition with the Index and Appendices, published by Unwin Hyman in 1988. This is the 1st impression of this lovely edition, featuring the dustjacket artwork by Roger Garland. A Near Fine copy of the book, in a New Custom Black Leather Slipcaset. This edition is a bit unusual and quite hard to find, especially in this lovely condiiton. The book is bound in blue cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, and features a navy blue silk ribbon marker. The book is in Near Fine condition with a minor split to the lower edge of the front gutter, with a small blue stain to the top edge of the text block, shown in the photos. The front and rear endpaper have a previous owners chop stamped in red ink to the pastedown side. This 1st impression lacks any maps, which were reinstated in the later impressions, and spread over the last few pages. No other writing or marks noted besides the chop mark. An excellent example of this wonderful edition, hard to find as likely limited in numbers issued by Unwin Hyman. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2184

Boston, New York, London: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. Alan Lee. First Thus. Hard Cover. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Comprised of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Published by Houghton Mifflin in 1992, a three volume set housed in a dark blue leather custom slipcase featuring the Centenary Logo stamped in silver to the sides . The books feature Alan Lee's Illustrations that were commissioned to celebrate the Centenary of Tolkiens Birth. Only one printing of this lovely set was ever published. All three of these books have the date under the publisher on the title page, a Houghton Mifflin point for the 1st printings, as well as the full numberline 1 thru 10 on the verso of the title page. The dustjackets feature some of Alan Lee's most famous illustrations, with a Silver Band to the top and bottom with the runes in black. All dustjackets in Near Fine condition with a tiny bit of rubbing to the silver band mainly at the fold areas. A very uncommon and hard to find set, virtually without blemish. A beautiful unmarked set bound in blue cloth with the JRRT monogram stamped in silver to the front boards of the books. No previous owners names or markings, not price clipped, in extraordinary condition. All original illustrations by Alan Lee thru the 3 books. You can follow how the recent movies were first visualized by Lee, and carried thru by Peter Jackson, with Lee's assistance throughout the movie's production. An exceptional set of books, only one printing of these books were ever produced. This separate three book set, makes handling and viewing much less of a problem then the single volume editions that were large and awkward to handle. Housed in custom dark blue leather slipcase featuring the Centenary Logo in silver stamped to both side panels. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2202