Bilbo’s Last Song
26 May
2025-5-26 10:26:26 AM UTC
2025-5-26 10:26:26 AM UTC
I haven’t done a thread in a while, so I thought I’d do a small one on the collectable items I have featuring Tolkiens poem “Bilbo’s Last Song”.
I don’t have everything produced, but I have a few things which might be of interest and other people can add any additional items.
The poem is interesting as it was first commercially available as a poster. The first poster with it on was a Dutch promo poster with translation by Max Schuchart produced in 1973 and limited to 2000 copies, I do not have this poster and have never seen one.
The second poster was the first commercial one and was published by Houghton Mifflin in April 1974 and features a photo by Robert Strindberg, again I do not have this poster.
I do have a Seventh impression of the third poster published by George, Allen and Unwin in September 1974 featuring an illustration by Pauline Baynes.
I don’t have everything produced, but I have a few things which might be of interest and other people can add any additional items.
The poem is interesting as it was first commercially available as a poster. The first poster with it on was a Dutch promo poster with translation by Max Schuchart produced in 1973 and limited to 2000 copies, I do not have this poster and have never seen one.
The second poster was the first commercial one and was published by Houghton Mifflin in April 1974 and features a photo by Robert Strindberg, again I do not have this poster.
I do have a Seventh impression of the third poster published by George, Allen and Unwin in September 1974 featuring an illustration by Pauline Baynes.
Here is a first state, first printing of the HoughtonMifflin poster along with a first UnwinHyman printing of the book. The book was one of (presumably many) copies that belonged to Joy Hill.
The composer Donald Swann set various Tolkien poems to music which were published in a music book The Road Goes Ever On, however Bilbo’s Last Song was not one of these poems and therefore did not appear in the first edition of the book. However he did later do Bilbo’s Last Song and it was included in the 2nd edition of book. I do not have a copy of the second edition.
I do have a copy of the 3rd edition which also included the poem, and this edition also had a CD of performances of the poems including Bilbo’s Last Sung performed by Donald Swann.
There was a concert in Rotterdam in 1995 where singer Jan Krediet with the EnSuite choir and pianist Alexandra Swemer performed The Road Goes Ever on including Bilbo’s Last Song. There was a limited edition CD of the concert produced, of 500 copies. I do not have this CD.
I do have a copy of the 3rd edition which also included the poem, and this edition also had a CD of performances of the poems including Bilbo’s Last Sung performed by Donald Swann.
There was a concert in Rotterdam in 1995 where singer Jan Krediet with the EnSuite choir and pianist Alexandra Swemer performed The Road Goes Ever on including Bilbo’s Last Song. There was a limited edition CD of the concert produced, of 500 copies. I do not have this CD.
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