The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien - 1977: prequel to the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit

First US printing trade copy of the first posthumous prequel to the Lord of the Rings books! NOT ex-lib and NOT bc.

The Silmarillion (prequel to the Lord of the Rings) by J.R.R. Tolkien (author of "The Hobbit") Hardcover First Edition - First Printing - Second State Houghton Mifflin 1977 $10.95 cover price intact. States "First Printing" and "First American Edition" on the copyright page above the printing number-line beginning with "1". Second state: under the lists of Tolkien's books before the main title page, "Father Giles of Ham" (later corrected to "Farmer Giles of Ham"). On first state copies there is broken type on page 229 in the middle of the page at lines 27-32. On this copy this shortcoming appears to have been corrected.

Fine- in Near Fine+ in Dust Jacket. A very presentable copy. Not quite pristine, but a good very smart copy. The main shortcomings are some toning to the dust jacket which is common with this edition because of the quality of the paper. Boards are generally clean and bright, corners are more or less straight, and some marks to the top edge of the front board. Dust jacket is for the most part bright and clean and NO tearing, some edge-wear to the top, some crinkling to the upper spine, and a slight discoloration to the left of "J" on the front. Still a well-above average copy of an uncommon first printing. Many copies were sent to libraries.

NOTE: All modern books with dust jackets come with dust jacket covers.

ALSO: The picture is of the actual item for sale. (The picture is NOT a stock photo.)