Here are the answers to which cover is which?

Picture 1 - Clowes First Export (Second Variant, Paper Cover no headband)

Picture 2 - Billings First Edition (Domestic Edition)

Picture 3 - Clowes First Export (with headband, and cloth)

The Billings Edition is more Blue than Purple, but I think both of my Clowes copies have identically coloured blue/purple wrappers, which contradicts Remy's post as his copies are different.

So to sum up the two Export Edition variants can be seen in either coloured wrapper.

It is obvious with those two examples, but not with my copies.

Scanning the covers did allow me to spot a difference between the export and domestic edition.

I have attached three scans of covers, one scan is the Billings First Edition (which does look a different colour to me), One scan is the Clowes First Export (with headband, and cloth) and the final scan is the Clowes First Export (Second Variant, Paper Cover no headband).

Can anyone tell which one is which?

(Answer 1 is the 2nd Clowes Variant, 2 is the Billings Domestic Edition, 3 is the 1st Clowes Variant)

Attach file:

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  1.jpg (36.89 KB)


  2.jpg (36.77 KB)


  3.jpg (37.87 KB)

Yes, I have 2 copies of the first variant and one copy of the second variant.

I have a fairly comprehensive collection of all the Impressions that exist (one doesn't) and Publishers of the GA&U Silmarillion from 1977.

Deagol states on his wonderful (forgot to say fantastic) website http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details.php?reference=62120 that there is a difference in colour on the dust jackets of the first export edition.

"The difference in colour between the two dustwrapper variants is subtle, but is noticeable when the two are placed next to each other."

I can't see this at all, all my copies look identical in colour, all 8 of them.

So if you have copies of the first Export Edition (printed by Clowes), can you confirm this statement, as I much I'd like to, I can't.

Another classic from Ebay, a constant source of amusement

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/antique-j-r-r-t ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem