The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (First American Edition, First Printing, Houghton Mifflin, 1977)

First American Edition, First Printing of The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1977. The copyright page states “FIRST PRINTING / First American Edition” and displays the complete W 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 number line.

Published posthumously and edited by Tolkien’s son Christopher Tolkien, The Silmarillion is the foundational history and mythology behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Drawing from manuscripts Tolkien developed over decades, it recounts the creation of Middle-earth, the rise of Morgoth, the history of the Elves and the great conflicts of the First Age, providing the larger mythology from which Tolkien’s better-known novels emerged.

This copy retains its original illustrated dust jacket and fold-out Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North. Bound in green cloth with decorative gilt stamping to the front board and gilt and silver lettering and decoration to the spine. Red-stained upper page edge.

The book itself is in very good to near-fine condition, with clean, bright cloth, a tight binding and clean interior. The fold-out map is clean and well preserved. The original dust jacket shows moderate age and handling wear, including edge wear, light creasing and a small tear/chip near the upper spine. Overall, a particularly attractive first-printing copy with the important original jacket and map intact.