[WTB] Christopher Tolkien Signed 1st/1st Silmarillion
Aug 17, 2021
2021/8/17 18:17:52 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/17 18:17:52 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Greetings!
I am looking for a 1st/1st Silmarillion signed directly on the book by Christopher Tolkien (not Methuen)!
The condition does not matter! Please message me!
I am looking for a 1st/1st Silmarillion signed directly on the book by Christopher Tolkien (not Methuen)!
The condition does not matter! Please message me!

Aug 17, 2021
2021/8/17 18:22:39 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/17 18:22:39 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Why the "not Methuen" request? CT didn't flatsign any Methuen copies to my knowledge. And, condition really doesn't matter, you sure? Are you planning on rebinding?

Aug 17, 2021
2021/8/17 18:31:37 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/17 18:31:37 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Thanks for the response! I am thinking about getting a Silmarillion rebound and I figured it would be nice to have a signed 1st/1st to make the rebound even more meaningful. That also explains why I prefer a copy in poorer condition.
I am seeking non-Methuen because if I do find a signed Methuen copy, I will never have it rebound.
BTW, I do own a Silmarillion signed by Christopher Tolkien, but I do not have the courage to get this book rebound. Hence, my search for another signed copy.
I am seeking non-Methuen because if I do find a signed Methuen copy, I will never have it rebound.
BTW, I do own a Silmarillion signed by Christopher Tolkien, but I do not have the courage to get this book rebound. Hence, my search for another signed copy.

Aug 17, 2021
2021/8/17 19:20:46 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/17 19:20:46 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
For me, part of the story of these early signed copies, is the where & when aspect. Christopher mostly signed copies to the ffep, so the provenance is going to be basically destroyed by rebinding it. There will no evidence that you didn't take the signature from somewhere else (as unlikely as that would be) & joining that with a random first edition copy. Not saying the value of an incredibly high-end rebind + Christopher's signature isn't going to significant, but it seems a shame in some respects.

Aug 17, 2021
2021/8/17 21:23:04 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/17 21:23:04 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Have you considered having a very high quality clamshell made for your existing signed Silmarillion? I tend to agree with Khamûl - the main interest in early signed Silmarillions is the originality, really. I think once you rebind, it isn't much different than a '98 illustrated deluxe; All very nice, but it isn't really an original signed 1st/1st.
That said, perhaps I could see the appeal in having a binding done like the 1982 (but with better quality and execution).
That said, perhaps I could see the appeal in having a binding done like the 1982 (but with better quality and execution).

Aug 19, 2021
2021/8/19 7:29:16 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/19 7:29:16 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Khamûl wrote:
For me, part of the story of these early signed copies, is the where & when aspect. Christopher mostly signed copies to the ffep, so the provenance is going to be basically destroyed by rebinding it. There will no evidence that you didn't take the signature from somewhere else (as unlikely as that would be) & joining that with a random first edition copy. Not saying the value of an incredibly high-end rebind + Christopher's signature isn't going to significant, but it seems a shame in some respects.
Wow, all thanks to you, I am able to save a perfectly fine signed Silmarillion from getting ripped. I juts realized that you are right; the signature is present on ffep, so when the book is rebound, all the proof of provenance will be gone. Thanks for reminding me!

Aug 19, 2021
2021/8/19 7:38:36 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/19 7:38:36 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Stu wrote:
Have you considered having a very high quality clamshell made for your existing signed Silmarillion? I tend to agree with Khamûl - the main interest in early signed Silmarillions is the originality, really. I think once you rebind, it isn't much different than a '98 illustrated deluxe; All very nice, but it isn't really an original signed 1st/1st.
That said, perhaps I could see the appeal in having a binding done like the 1982 (but with better quality and execution).
I already had high quality solander casings made for several of my 1st/1sts and have two Hobbits rebound by two established binderies based in UK. However, it has always been my dream to pour all the craftmanship into making a most intricately designed Silmarillion. Lets say, I would like to have a showcase of works by different binderies!
Currently, I have the Hobbit rebound by Bayntun Rivere and another one by the Chelsea Bindery. For another Hobbit, I thought about having Sangorski & Sutcliffe (Shepherds) rebind it, but a renowned children's literature collector from Grolier was adamant about not destroying original work for the sake of rebinding, so I just had a solander case made for it.
This time, I would like Richard Tong of Lyra's Books (a close associate of HarperCollins) to rebind my Silmarillion.

Aug 19, 2021
2021/8/19 8:49:59 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/19 8:49:59 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
' a renowned children's literature collector from Grolier was adamant about not destroying original work for the sake of rebinding''
I agree with this. I'm all for keeping my Tolkien books as they were published.
.
I agree with this. I'm all for keeping my Tolkien books as they were published.
.

Aug 19, 2021
2021/8/19 9:07:13 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2021/8/19 9:07:13 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
The_Antiquarian wrote:
the sake of rebinding, so I just had a solander case made for it.
This time, I would like Richard Tong of Lyra's Books (a close associate of HarperCollins) to rebind my Silmarillion.
I think Lyras do some really nice work. The only thing that always feels like a technical error is the small space between the boards and the spine where the leather shrinks at the head and foot. It just feels excessive relative to other binderies, which is a shame as I really like everything else about their work.

Aug 19, 2021
(edited)
2021/8/19 21:16:14 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Edited by Khamûl on 2021/8/20 21:17:56
2021/8/19 21:16:14 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
Stu wrote:
The_Antiquarian wrote:
the sake of rebinding, so I just had a solander case made for it.
This time, I would like Richard Tong of Lyra's Books (a close associate of HarperCollins) to rebind my Silmarillion.
I think Lyras do some really nice work. The only thing that always feels like a technical error is the small space between the boards and the spine where the leather shrinks at the head and foot. It just feels excessive relative to other binderies, which is a shame as I really like everything else about their work.
If you're talking about the triangular cut-aways ("back-cornering") to the head & tail of the boards at the spine, then that's to remove the sharpness of those corners to prevent them poking through the leather, when one is turning the leather in. It's also stylistic & helps with forming headcaps. It's not to do with leather shrinkage.