Published by George Allen and Unwin, London; 1977. First Edition, first printing. 8vo. 365pp. Condition: Very Good+/Very Good
Bound in original dark blue cloth with title to the spine. The binding is square and tight and in excellent condition, with just one small knock near the top of the front board and slight fading to the bottom edge. There is a little bumping to the edges and corners. Inside, the pages are clean and bright, free from blemishes or damage, with just a touch of toning to the pages. Printed by Billings, comes complete with original maps
The book is housed in its equally smart, unclipped, dust jacket, with original price of £4.95. The jacket is vibrant and smart, with just a little bumping to the corners and spine ends, and a small nick at the front ,to the edge.
In all, this is a beautiful example of this first edition of this collection of stories from Middle Earth. It is an important instalment in Tolkien's fantasy books and would be the perfect addition to any Tolkien collection. The Silmarillion long precedes The Lord of the Rings in its origins, telling the tale of the First Age of Tolkien's world, the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in which some of them, including Elrond and Galadriel, took part. Indeed, the tales of the Silmarillion were the inspiration and source for Tolkien's imaginative writing, and he worked on it throughout his life, never bringing it to a final form.