Farmer Giles of Ham by TOLKIEN, J. R. R - 1949

George Allen & Unwin, 1949. First edition, first printing. 8vo. 79pp. Burnt orange boards with blue titles & dragon vignette to front board. Pictorial dustrapper by Pauline Baynes. Blue topedge as issued. A near fine copy with clean boards & one small mark to rear board. No inscriptions. No marks to textblock edges. The very good+ dustwrapper is complete with no loss. Some wear to extremities with a couple of closed tears to rear panel - one being 3" in length. None of the usual toning to spine. Original price of 6snet on front flap. An attractive copy with none of the usual darkening to spine. The story describes the encounters between Farmer Giles and a wily dragon & how Giles uses these to rise from humble beginnings to rival the King of the Land. Set in Britain in an imaginary period of the Dark Ages featuring mythical creatures & medieval knights. Only tangentially connected with the authors Middle Earth legendarium.