My Facsimile First Edition arrived today, and while there ended up being a slight indentation along the bottom edge that unfortunately made its way through the slip cover and onto the book itself, the dents in the boards and cloth can be massaged out. I may buy a second copy later once we'be returned from NZ, but I'm very happy with this copy as is. It's a rather pretty thing!

Hi Deagol, I have seen that hardback from HM on sale before. I was actually looking for a HarperCollins hardback, but I don't think there's any.

Why would adding HoME material make it worse? I thought it would make it more acurate.

I haven't compared the original with the revised in any detail, and I can't speak for Deagol, but here is hopefully some useful information from the foreword of the revised edition.

The maps detailing the lands of the earlier ages, especially those in volume four, The Shaping of Middle-earth, were especially helpful in remapping the whole of Arda. In the original atlas the world maps were based strictly on analysis of the written text.

In the volumes covering The Lord of the Rings, one crucial role of The History was the assignment of the various drawings and maps to the appropriate version of the text. This information immediately clarified why some of the sketches that had been available from Marquette University archives during the initial writing and design of the atlas differed in some details from the published descriptions, notably Isengard, Dunharrow, and Minas Tirith.

Easton Press has the Atlas bound in green leather for $147.

Here is a picture of, and some more information on, the original hardcover:

http://www.mytolkienbooks.com/books-a ... le-earth-us-edition-1981/

I don’t have it, but it is on my want list!

If it helps, here are a few more pictures of the 1st/1st...

Very nice. Is that yours? Can we see the cloth boards a little more? Can anyone else shed any light on the revision changes?

Well, I focus on the British publications but since they never made a Hardcover version and the HM one seems so well made I might make an exception.

It was pointed out on the onering.net forums that Amazon are listing a revised version of the Companion and Guide by Scull and Hammond for September 2017.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/J-R-Tolkien-Companion-Guide/dp/0008214549/

Very interesting if true

Now confirmed https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.co ... mpanion-and-guide-2nd-ed/

Interesting indeed! The link doesn't mention if its a 2 volume set or if its hardback. I guess more information will be available as the temtative release date approaches.