Here's a reference to comments from a Tolkien lecture in A Guide to Old English (the only other T. reference, if I trust the search results from the 2nd edition on the IA). It's a slight pity it's not a direct quote as in the notes from the lecture in northman's book, but I'll not complain

I could very much imagine Tom Shippey saying things like this!

An absolutely stunning haul! And a few things here for me to add to my wishlist

Here are some of the things to arrive up here the past few months:


Smith of Wootton Major second state of the first impression of the first edition (se separate post on this if interested)




Promotional edition of the Hobbit made for the upcoming hobbit movies when they thought there would be 2 of them. I understand this was handed out to some people and were never out for sale.


First edition set of the Lord of the Rings in Esperanto. 500 copies made.


Farmer Giles of Ham, the elusive 60th anniversary edition


The Trees, the Jewels and the Rings, by Charles Noad


Nelson variant of the first paperback of the Lord of the Rings from 1968. Unread condition really.


Åke Ohlmarks doctorate dissertation from 1937. It's quite hard finding items with a personal relation to Ohlmarks due to alot dissapearing when his house burned down. A 17 page review by the esteemed philologist Dag Stømback was also included (this review would decades later inspire Ohlmarks to write his 'doctor i Lund'. Very happy to get this one.


Dagens bok variant of the third impression of the first edition of the norwegian edition of the silmarillion. I believe this concludes my search for variants of the first edition.


þorgils Saga ok Hafliða, 1952


A philological miscellany, 1942


'old jacket state' of the 7th impression of the second edition of the Lord of the Rings


11th, 15th and 17th impressions of the Hobbit


Signed and numbered by David Wenzel, limited edition of the The Hobbit Comics adapted by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by David Wenzel.


Unwin Hyman printing of the Hobbit deluxe edition.



The ACE set of the Lord of the Rings. This is Torstein Bugge Høverstads personal set, all 3 books signed by him and used as a first edition text reference during his translation work. Høverstad is the award-winning translator of the second and definite norwegian translation of the Lord of the Rings (1984). A superb translation and a very special set for me to get. I also got a danish set that was his danish reference for his translation work.


Die Drei Silmarillion (first german (unofficial)), and first (and only) cuban Hobbit.


First Norwegian editions of Tree and Leaf, and Smith of Wootton Major. These are copies that belonged to the translator Johannes H. Berg jr.


Torstein Bugge Høverstads copy of the Book of Lost Tales 1, with a letter from the norwegian publisher Tiden. The letter was sent to Høverstad upon Tiden getting a copy of volume 2. The Tiden editor wants Høverstads thoughts concerning part 1 regarding a possible translation - in the end this was never translated to norwegian (it was translated to swedish).


First state of Barbara Remingtons map of Middle-earth from 1965.


uncorrected proof of Unfinished Tales.


Publishers Weekly from May 1977 predating the publishing of the Silmarillion - quite possibly the first view of the US cover of the Silmarillion.


Finally an affordable copy of the J.R.R. Tolkien encyclopedia.



'landscape from the Dead marshes' by John Howe. This was the 'dress rehearsal' for 'dead faces' i suppose.

Fantastic finds! Congrats.

What an amazing haul Frode !
Delicious to see, congratulations

A philological miscellany, 1942..... wow this has been evading me for forever

That's a fantastic assortment of really unique and interesting items, congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Very nice additions! Thanks for sharing! I have a paperback Drout encyclopedia which is such poor quality it can only loosely be described as "bound." Hoping for a more affordable hardcover copy myself.