Christopher and J.R.R. Tolkien (1945) © The Tolkien Estate

2024 marks the Centenary of Christopher Tolkien's birth and as part of the commemoration, HarperCollins are releasing The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle-earth and the Index as single volume hardbacks in 4 boxed sets.

The books have reversible jackets, with artwork by John Howe on one side and the original jacket design on the other side. You can pick which jacket you want on your shelves, or buy two sets if you want to display both.
The books will not be available as individual volumes, only in the boxed sets. The Print on Demand volumes are no longer available, and I am not sure if there are any plans to make them available again in the future.

It is also a welcome return for the purple Unfinished Tales, first used in 1992 and a new cover for The Silmarillion to match the original HoMe editions.

• The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales are offset from early editions, so the page numbers correspond to all Christopher’s page references in the History volumes, his Great Tales, and in other books like The Fall of Númenor. We’ve had a lot of people asking for this, as they can’t find the references in the modern editions.
  

The boxed set #1 is being released in the UK by HarperCollins on the 23rd November 2023 and also via William Morrow, but these sets may take a bit longer to appear on sale, probably will be available early 2024. The RRP is £100.

This also marks the first time that the Index has been released as a hardback, as I don't count print on demand books.

I think the remaining box-sets will have staggered releases throughout 2024, hopefully both the UK and US editions will be available at the same time.

The breakdown of the sets will be

Boxed set #1

Left John Howe covers, Right Classic HoMe covers

First in a series of hardback boxed sets celebrating the literary achievement of Christopher Tolkien, featuring double-sided dustjackets. Set 1 contains special editions of THE SILMARILLION and UNFINISHED TALES reproducing the first edition text, together with the two volumes of THE BOOK OF LOST TALES.

The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s World. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.

Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth and the rise of Númenor in the Second Age to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century’s most acclaimed popular author.

The Book of Lost Tales stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor for the Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. Embedded in English legend and English association, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol to the lonely Isle where the Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse.

In the two volumes of the Tales are found the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of the geography and cosmology of Tolkien’s invented world.

Published together for the first time, these four books collect the beginning of Christopher Tolkien’s forty-year career devoted to presenting his father J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on Middle-earth, a unique accomplishment that celebrates the greatest invented world in all of fantasy literature.

Release Date UK : 23rd November 2023 (HarperCollins)
Release Date US : TBC (William Morrow)
ISBN 978-0008663162

Contents

• The Silmarillion
  
• Unfinished Tales
  
• The Book of Lost Tales Part One
  
• The Book of Lost Tales Part Two
  

Affiliate Links

The History of Middle-earth: Book 1

HarperCollins (2023-11-23)

£100.00 Amazon.co.uk (Hardcover) - Availability: Preorderable

Boxed set #2

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
Release Date US : TBC (William Morrow)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• The Lays of Beleriand
  
• The Shaping of Middle-earth
  
• The Lost Road and Other Writings
  

Boxed set #3

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
Release Date US : TBC (William Morrow)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• The Return of the Shadow
  
• The Treason of Isengard
  
• The War of the Ring
  
• Sauron Defeated
  

Boxed set #4

Release Date UK : TBC (HarperCollins)
Release Date US : TBC (William Morrow)
ISBN TBC

Contents

• Morgoth's Ring
  
• The War of the Jewels
  
• The Peoples of Middle-earth
  
• Index
  

Lot 412 - TOLKIEN (J.R.R.) THE LORD OF THE RINGS, 3 VOL., FIRST EDITIONS, FIFTH, SECOND AND FIRST 28 Sep 2023 11:00 BST

Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., comprising The Fellowship of the Ring, fifth impression, sunning to spine ends, jacket spine chipped with loss, 1956, The Two Towers, second impression, ink ownership inscription, toning to spine, spotting to covers, third impression jacket, 1956, The Return of the King, first edition, first impression with signature mark '4' and sagging text to p.49, ink ownership inscription, jacket price-clipped, fading to lower panel, 1955, folding maps, browning to endpapers, original cloth, some shelf-lean, spine ends and corners a little bumped and frayed, dust-jackets, all broken along lower joint, spines browned, spine ends and corners chipped with loss, some creasing and fraying to head, light surface soiling and toning to panels, 8vo.

Auctioneer's estimate
800 GBP - 1,200 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... cc6981152cc8aa20ea276451f

Lot 750 - J. R. R. TOLKIEN FIRST EDITION - 'THE RETURN OF THE KING,' SIGNATURE MARK '4' TO PAGE 49 26 Sep 2023 10:00 BST to
27 Sep 2023 10:00 BST

J. R. R. Tolkien first edition - 'The Return of the King,' signature mark '4' to page 49, with dust jacket, together with The Fellowship of the Ring, 1955 fourth impression

Auctioneer's estimate
500 GBP - 1,000 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... 46790749c54dea03790fb972d

Lot 5212 - J.R.R. TOLKIEN 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS' DELUXE EDITION SEVENTH IMPRESSION PUB. GEORGE ALLEN AND UNWIN 29 Sep 2023 14:00 BST

J.R.R. Tolkien 'The Lord of the Rings' Deluxe Edition seventh impression pub. George Allen and Unwin 1979, with Sideshow Weta FX 'The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King' limited edition 1/4 scale Helm of a Battle Troll in original box no. 613/2500, and other books and ephemera of related interest

Auctioneer's estimate
40 GBP - 60 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... 07cba4851a99c8ca778a90aae

Lot 53 - TOLKIEN (J.R.R.). THE LORD OF RINGS. FOLIO SOCIETY, 2002, THREE VOLUMES, ORIGINAL BOARDS 29 Sep 2023 10:30 BST

Spine of Hobbit slightly faded, otherwise Fine copies, free of inscriptions.

Auctioneer's estimate
80 GBP - 120 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... bc31f768fb9c140cc70ab8acd

Lot 556 - J. R. R. TOLKIEN. A SELECTION OF WORKS
08 Oct 2023 19:51 BST

J. R. R. Tolkien. A selection of works, comprising: Tom Bombadil (1973, 7th impression); The Hobbit (1987, reprint); The Father Christmas Letters (1976, 1st); Pictures by J. R. R. Tolkien (1979, 1st); The Road Goes Ever On (1974, 4th imp.); Mr Bliss (1982, 1st); & The Silmarillion Calendar 1978. (7)

Auctioneer's estimate
40 GBP - 60 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... 992833a8b0ed60df38e43314c

Lot 292 - TOLKIEN, JRR
10 Oct 2023 10:00 BST

TOLKIEN, JRR: 1- The Road Goes Ever On. Unwin, 1968, 1st. edn. DW (30s), 4to. (tear to DW); 2- The Lord of the Rings, 3 vols. Unwin, 1967, 2nd. Edn, 2nd. Impr; 3- The Hobbit. Two copies: 1978 & 1990, DWs, Fine copies; 4- Foster, R: The complete guide to Middle-earth. 1978, 1st. edn. DW, fine.

Auctioneer's estimate
150 GBP - 250 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... 40b8bd61ba1c5179b312f29ad

Lot 289 - TOLKIEN, J. R. R: THE TWO TOWERS
10 Oct 2023 10:00 BST

TOLKIEN, J. R. R: The Two Towers (Vol. 2 of the Lord of the Rings). George Allen and Unwin, 1954, 1st. edn. Covers rubbed & stained.

Auctioneer's estimate
100 GBP - 200 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... 85d15eb1160cfed5c537edfec

Lot 11A - J R R TOLKIEN INTEREST READERS UNION "THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" AND "THE TWO TOWERS"
26 Sep 2023 10:00 BST

J R R Tolkein interest
Readers Union "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers", "The Lord of the Rings", boxed set, 3 vols and "The Hobbit", Harper Collins, "The Lord of the Rings", Harper Collins, "Unfinished Tales", Christopher Tolkein ed, dust wrapper not price clipped, "The Hobbit", by JRR Tolkien, 4 one hour cassettes by the BBC Radio, "The Lord of the Rings", celebrated BBC Radio production on 13 one hour cassettes,
"Smith of Wootten Major", illustrations by Pauline Baynes, George Allen & Unwin 1967, St Pauls College Cheltenham Library stamp on tp
"Farmer Giles of Ham", George Allen & Unwin, illustrated by Pauline Diana Baynes, colour frontis, dust wrapper not price clipped (1 box)

Auctioneer's estimate
20 GBP - 40 GBP
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... e6282a32976f0f5b616c99d58

Wonderful news for Tolkien collectors, Marquette is auctioning off some of the materials from their exhibition last year in order to raise funds for the archives. There are some one-of-a-kind materials available here and I am sure they will draw a lot of interest from around the world. Good luck to everyone interested!

https://e.givesmart.com/events/yeL/

Mae govannen! The collectibles in this auction come from Marquette University's celebrated exhibition, J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript, held at the Haggerty Museum of Art, August 19 - December 23, 2022. Proceeds benefit the Tolkien Archive Fund and will be used to preserve the precious Tolkien manuscript collection for generations to come.

The auction opens on September 22, 2023 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 29, 2023.

These items are protected by copyright and are offered for the bidder's personal use. These items may not be reproduced.

Lyon & Turnbull 21 Sep 2023 10:00 BST

Lot 253 Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit

First edition, first impression, one of 1500 copies, 8vo, original green cloth, titles and decoration to spine and covers in blue, top edge dyed green, map endpapers printed in red and black, frontispiece ('The Hill: Hobbiton across the Water'), plate ('Mirkwood'), spine rolled, small area of cockling to head of front board, corners very slightly bumped, lower fore corner of rear board with cloth worn away, a few light finger-marks to margins [Hammond A3a]

Note:

Provenance: With the ownership inscription 'Betty Jean Orton, Xmas 1937' to the initial blank: this is the daughter of Harold Orton (1898-1975), English dialectologist and lexicographer remembered for his monumental Survey of English Dialects (1962-72).

Estimate 3,000 GBP - 5,000 GBP
Sold for 13,860 GBP including fees

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... tm_content=lot-image-link

Lot 254 Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings
London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1969. First india-paper edition, 8vo, original black cloth decorated in silver and gilt, 2 folding maps, full-page map in text, spine very slightly sunned, slipcase rubbed [Hammond A5h];


Stevenson, Robert Louis. Island Nights' Entertainments. Consisting of the Beach of Falesa. The Bottle Imp. The Isle of Voices. London: Cassell & Company Limited, 1893. First edition, 8vo, original blue pictorial cloth gilt, frontispiece, colour map, 26 plates (counted in pagination), price on list of publications facing half-title amended in manuscript;
Keats, John. Endymion: A Poetic Romance. London: Taylor and Hessey, 1818 [c.1900]. Facsimile edition, 8vo, original cloth, paper spine-label, largely unopened;
Henley, W. E. (editor). Certain Tragical Discourses of Bandello. Translated into English by Geffraie Fenton anno 1567. With an Introduction by Robert Langton Douglas. London: David Nutt, 1898. One of 18 copies on Japanese paper, this copy 'marked 'File copy' on limitation page, 2 volumes, 4to, original white glazed paper boards, unopened, wear to spine-ends and joints, covers slightly soiled;
Burton, Richard F (translator). The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Now first completely Englished into Verse and Prose. London: printed for the translators ... for private subscribers only, 1894. One of 1,000 copies on hand-made paper, 8vo, original quarter japon, spine discoloured, wear to tips;
Baillie-Grohman, William A. & F (editors). The Master of Game by Edward, Second Duke of York. London: Chatto & Windus, 1909. 8vo, original vellum gilt, 24 plates, occasional spotting to text;
and 4 others including D. H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover, [Paris]: privately printed, 1929, author's unabridged popular edition, contemporary cloth, retaining original wrappers

Estimate 300 GBP - 500 GBP
Sold for 756 GBP including fees

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... tm_content=lot-image-link

Forum Auctions - Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on paper
28 September 2023 11:00 BST

Lot 406 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.).- THE FAME OF BLESSED THOMAS MORE... WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY BY PROFESSOR R.

Tolkien (J.R.R.).- The Fame of Blessed Thomas More... With an Introductory Essay by Professor R. W. Chambers, first edition, signed presentation inscription from Chambers to J.R.R. Tolkien dated "Dec. 31, 1929" with a 9-line quotation of Thomas More to front free endpaper, original cloth, toning to spine and covers, 8vo, 1929.

⁂ An excellent association, inscribed to Tolkien by an important early friend and mentor. Chambers (1874-1942) was, like Tolkien, a Catholic as well as a scholar of Old English and influential writer on Beowulf. Tolkien and Chambers remained close friends and correspondents with each sending the other copies of their newly-printed works.

Estimate GBP 500 - 700

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 407 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.).- YOUNGER (WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH) BLUE MOON IN PORTUGAL, FIRST EDITION, INITIALED

Tolkien (J.R.R.).- Younger (William and Elizabeth) Blue Moon in Portugal, first edition, initialed presentation inscription from J.R.R. Tolkien to his wife "E.M.T. with love from J.R.R.T 1956" in Tolkien's fine calligraphic hand to endpaper, photographic plates and illustrations, hand-drawn colourful bookmark loosely inserted, bill from the Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth, made out to "Miss E. Jennings" with a few ink notes to verso, folded and loosely inserted, spotting to endpapers, original cloth, light rubbing to extremities, 8vo, 1956.

⁂ A charming inscribed gift from Tolkien to his wife Edith. The Hotel Miramar was a favourite of the Tolkiens' and the bill is most likely made out to the poet Elizabeth Jennings (1926 - 2001), a lifelong friend of the Tolkien family.

Estimate GBP 1,500 - 2,000

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 408 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.).- SAYERS (DOROTHY L., EDITOR) GREAT SHORT STORIES OF DETECTION, MYSTERY

Tolkien (J.R.R.).- Sayers (Dorothy L., editor) Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror, seventeenth impression, J.R.R. Tolkien's copy with his ink ownership inscription to endpaper, light marginal browning, original cloth, light browning to spine, light sunning to covers, 8vo, 1960.

⁂ Tolkien's copy of one of Sayers' celebrated anthologies. Tolkien's love of detective and mystery novels is well-documented, the present collection includes works by E.C. Bentley, Austin Freeman, Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe and J. Storer Clouston.

Estimate GBP 1,500 - 2,000

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 409 TOLKIEN (J.R.R).- KIAER (EIGIL) BLANDFORD GARDEN FLOWERS IN COLOUR, THIRD IMPRESSION, INITIALED

Tolkien (J.R.R).- Kiaer (Eigil) Blandford Garden Flowers in Colour, third impression, initialed presentation inscription from J.R.R. Tolkien to his wife "E ✱ from R. Nov. 1964" to endpaper, colour illustrations by Verner Hancke, neat ink correction to p.196, original boards, slight toning to spine, dust-jacket, light browning to spine and panel margins, spine ends a little chipped, some pealing to laminate, 8vo, 1963.

⁂ A charming Tolkien-associative item indicative of the couple's shared love of gardening.

Estimate GBP 1,500 - 2,000

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 410 TOKIEN(sic) (J.R.R.).- CHRISTIE (AGATHA) A BERTRAM'S HOTEL, FIRST EDITION, J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S COPY

Tokien(sic) (J.R.R.).- Christie (Agatha) A Bertram's Hotel, first edition, J.R.R. Tolkien's copy with his ink ownership inscription to endpaper alongside neat pencil note in his hand "✱ from E" to endpaper, original boards, light vertical crease to spine, dust-jacket, light browning to spine, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, light marking and surface soiling to lower panel, 8vo, 1965.

⁂ Tolkien's copy of a classic Miss Marple mystery, gifted to him by his wife Edith. Tolkien was an avid reader of detective fiction and was particularly keen on the works of Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton.

Estimate GBP 1,500 - 2,000

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link

Lot 411 TOLKIEN (J.R.R.) THE HOBBIT, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, 1937

Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, first impression, frontispiece, one plate and 8 illustrations, including 7 full-page, map endpapers printed in red & black, all by the author, 2" tear to lower edge endpapers, 2pp. advertisements, occasional light pen mark or finger-soiling mark to pages, small marginal hole to pp.223/4, pen colouring and writing to fore-edge, original pictorial cloth, light shelf-lean, spine darkened, chipping and fraying to spine ends and corners, light soiling, 8vo, 1937.

Estimate GBP 4,000-6,000

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auc ... utm_content=lot-view-link