TOLKIEN, J.R.R. (author). Christopher TOLKIEN (editor). The Silmarillion. London George Allen & Unwin. 1977

8vo.; publisher’s dark blue cloth lettered gilt to spine with a gilded heraldic device (of Lúthian Tinúviel), top edges stained blue, in dustwrapper decorated with further heraldic devices drawn by the author; pp. [vi], 7-365, including Notes on Pronunciation, Index and Appendix; large folding map to rear, printed in red and black, with a neat and very small gift inscription to front free endpaper, internally fine and crisp, in a near immaculate, price-clipped dustwrapper with a light, and barely noticeable, scratch to lower cover and a minute bruise to heel, at upper joint; scarce in this condition.

First edition, printed by Billing & Sons Limited of Guildford for the domestic market. An edition printed by Cowes for the export market was issued simultaneously.

A collection of mythopoeic stories serving as the foundational legendarium for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.