onthetrail wrote:
This Hobbit release has been wittled down rather concerningly over time to the point that they don't seem to have any enthusiasm for it.

The original blurb that was circulating at least had some pride about it

"This sumptuous gift set includes a replica of the very rare first edition of The Hobbit, the only edition where one can now read the original version of the story before Tolkien re-edited it to become the one enjoyed by readers since 1951." Amazon received this description from HC and the description is still present on many HC websites including HCAustralia

And now officially reads on .co.uk....

"This special printing reprints the first edition, so that readers of all ages not just children between the ages of 5 and 9’, as Rayner Unwin famously declared in his report on the original submission can finally enjoy Tolkien’s story as it originally appeared."

The picture is dreadful. The wording is very telling, replica in the first blurb which means an exact copy is now gone and replaced with 'reprints the first edition' which can be stretched to mean almost anything. and yet the email has replica in it.

To cut a long story short. HC you suck!

Might be a bit harsh :) Unfortunately there are a lot of "legacy" facsimile 1st DJs out there that are far from accurate, but are out in the wild (and can never be made to go away). One would have hoped they would have chosen a clean and untampered scan as their source for the jacket, but I guess the existing facsimile route probably seemed like an easy shortcut (but sadly a perilous one!). In truth, even without the errors, the existing facsimile jackets just aren't high definition enough for commercial printing, and I think I would have been disappointed with the result.

This is the cover for The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0008202133/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Looks quite nice. I assume that drawing is by Tolkien.

Thanks for sharing, Trotter :)

Earl wrote:
I assume that drawing is by Tolkien.

I don't think it is, does anyone know?

Yes it is Tolkien, it is called Cove near the Lizard.

It is noted with a version in b&w in Artist & Illustrator pg. 25.

There is also a colour version Here

There and Back Again by Mark Atherton has mention of it too.

Thanks for the info. I like the cover, and the picture suits the material, I think.

I like the style, very nice.

Though 128 pages according to the Amazon listing. I guess it will be like 70% commentary?

Thanks for that. I have to say I love that website - it's very well done.

Any news on the deluxe "Kullervo" book yet? I'm waiting to see the foil motif

I received this email from Amazon today, hopefully should not be a very long delay.

Hello,

We regret to inform you that the following items have been delayed:

Tolkien, J. R. R. "The Hobbit Facsimile First Edition"
Estimated arrival date: Unknown