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Christopher Tolkien Books 1956-1969

18 Jan, 2020
2020-1-18 12:47:11 PM UTC

I like to add Christopher's books from this period to my collection.

This is from the Tolkien Gateway, http://www.tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Christopher_Tolkien#Books

  • 1956: Hervarar Saga ok Heidreks. Ed. [E.O.] G. Turville-Petre. London: University College London, for the Viking Society for Northern Research, 1956; introduction by Christopher Tolkien.
  • 1958: The Pardoner's Tale. Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Nevill Coghill and Christopher Tolkien. London: George G. Harrap, 1958. [29 Oct 58]
  • 1959: The Nun's Priest's Tale. Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Nevill Coghill and Christopher Tolkien. London: George G. Harrap, 1959. [28 Feb 60]
  • 1960: The Saga of King Heidrek the Wise. Ed. and trans. Christopher Tolkien. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons (Icelandic Texts), 1960. [30 Jun 60]
  • 1969: The Man of Law's Tale. Geoffrey Chaucer, ed. Nevill Coghill and Christopher Tolkien. London: George G. Harrap, 1969. [Jun 69]

Hopefully members of the forum will own copies of these books.

My two main questions are

  • Are any books missing from this list?
  • Did all of these have dust-jackets and if you own a copy could you provide an image so that I know what to look for?
18 Jan, 2020
2020-1-18 5:25:24 PM UTC
I have HarperCollins' 2010 print on demand edition of The Saga of King Heidrek the Wise; which was in celebration of the book's 50th anniversary. It is essentially a facsimile of the original edition, though with the publisher info being different.

ISBN is 9780007416967

Printed and bound in Great Britian by Martins-the-PrintersLtd, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
18 Jan, 2020
2020-1-18 7:25:23 PM UTC
You could pick up very nice copies of Heidrek in near fine jackets for $65 - 70 a couple of years back (with a few copies for sale at that price point). I considered buying a copy, but couldn't really justify as I have the HC facsimile. Worth saying that a few years before that, they were typically double the cost.

We may see some variation on prices for these for a little while, but I'd guess the above price probably constitutes the long term norm.
18 Jan, 2020
2020-1-18 8:44:35 PM UTC
I have a copy of Saga Book Vol. XIV which has Christopher's Battle of the Goths and Huns.
18 Jan, 2020
2020-1-18 11:58:59 PM UTC
I have all of those bar The Man of Law's Tale. My two Chaucer's ain't firsts tho'; just random later impressions. Never bought the King Heidrek the Wise facsimile from HC, as I had the original. Nothing to do with CT, but Nelson did a series of these books that I'd imagine look quite smart together on the shelf...
19 Jan, 2020
2020-1-19 12:06:41 AM UTC
I have a first of the Nun's Priest's Tale. I sold off my later printings of a few of the others with the intent to get first impressions, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I don't know for certain, but I have never seen dustjackets for the Tale books, and a few dealers listings say "without dustjacket as issued" so maybe they know something I don't know for sure.

1_5e239e61339a8.jpeg 1777X2048 px

1_5e239e6134109.jpeg 788X3260 px
19 Jan, 2020
2020-1-19 9:22:28 AM UTC

Khamûl wrote:
I have all of those bar The Man of Law's Tale. My two Chaucer's ain't firsts tho'; just random later impressions. Never bought the King Heidrek the Wise facsimile from HC, as I had the original. Nothing to do with CT, but Nelson did a series of these books that I'd imagine look quite smart together on the shelf...

You are right, those Nelson books would look nice as a set, and are likely to be pretty interesting read, as well. Maybe something to collect down the line, especially as they are inexpensive. On the other hand, I wish I could get more motivated by Chaucer, but just isn't quite my cup of tea, really.
19 Jan, 2020
2020-1-19 10:27:03 AM UTC
The other Nelson I have is the Volsunga Saga. Looks nice next to CT's! ;)

I've attached some random images of other editions/covers after a brief online search. Anyone have or seen any other editions I wonder?




3 Nelson Editions.jpg

125_5e242e9b0c00e.jpg 300X400 px

125_5e242ea61bb9a.jpg 315X475 px

125_5e242eb34b1e5.jpg 300X400 px

125_5e242ed33edc5.jpg 731X1278 px
19 Jan, 2020
2020-1-19 10:34:32 AM UTC
Also, and I don't have my notes in front of me right now, but Christopher's The Battle of the Goths and the Huns isn't on that list either. It was also published by the Viking Society for Northern Research. It was includes in a volume of Saga-Book.
19 Jan, 2020
2020-1-19 4:37:44 PM UTC
Thanks to everyone, I have a much better idea on what to look for
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