Joaozin wrote:
What printing is this one? I thought all of them came with those little green specks on the edges.
*Edit: The Allen & Unwin India Paper edition, that is.
*Edit 2: Apparently this is actually a Unwin Hyman edition (which I just found out existed, the more you learn)? Do all printings under this publisher lack the little dots?
Only one print of this edition from Unwin Hyman (1990). No red text and no speckles.
Emilien wrote:
Beautiful Unwin Hyman copy, congrats ! And nice to see this HarperCollins variant of the Michael Hague Hobbit, (1st print). Grabbed one also some months ago, that's a beautiful book (especially the cloth binding with the gilt monogram, cloth binding which has been replaced by a paper binding for the no less common second printing).
Thanks, Emilien.
I was surprised to see that the HC Hague Hobbit 1st imp was printed in the USA. I know it happens from time to time with HC editions (they were cheap to ship to Canada, I suppose), but still generally unexpected!
Another recent arrival a couple of weeks ago. The elusive £1.85. Haven't gotten around to making a slipcase as yet.

The late Stu wrote:
Joaozin wrote:
What printing is this one? I thought all of them came with those little green specks on the edges.
*Edit: The Allen & Unwin India Paper edition, that is.
*Edit 2: Apparently this is actually a Unwin Hyman edition (which I just found out existed, the more you learn)? Do all printings under this publisher lack the little dots?
Only one print of this edition from Unwin Hyman (1990). No red text and no speckles.
Honestly, I like it better without them. I once saw a post on another book collecting forum where a buyer was worried the specks were actually mole.
Thanks to Mr. Underhill for flagging this one. Some waviness to the pages (as could be seen on the original listing). Will G-clamp it between a couple of sheets of acid-free paper and MDF for a few months and that will mostly go away. A nice addition to my 50th anniversary ephemera.
Thanks to @mrsthelatestu for the cats. 7 months ago they were little 2kg feral kittens and now they are just eating machines. Stripey Boi is 6kg and rising... The black-and-whiter has a brain the size of a pea.
Thanks to @mrsthelatestu for the cats. 7 months ago they were little 2kg feral kittens and now they are just eating machines. Stripey Boi is 6kg and rising... The black-and-whiter has a brain the size of a pea.



The late Stu wrote:
Thanks to Mr. Underhill for flagging this one. Some waviness to the pages (as could be seen on the original listing). Will G-clamp it between a couple of sheets of acid-free paper and MDF for a few months and that will mostly go away. A nice addition to my 50th anniversary ephemera.
Thanks to @mrsthelatestu for the cats. 7 months ago they were little 2kg feral kittens and now they are just eating machines. Stripey Boi is 6kg and rising... The black-and-whiter has a brain the size of a pea.
Oh good, glad you got it The late Stu it’s a nice booklet. The cats are not too bad either.
16 Dec, 2025
(edited)
2025-12-16 10:19:44 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2025-12-16 10:21:19 PM UTC
2025-12-16 10:19:44 PM UTC
I always said I wouldn't let my Silmarillions start to breed, but here we are....
Billings 1st/Billings 1st/Clowes 1st (Variant 1)/2nd/4th/5th/BCA 77/BCA 78
I still need the paper-covered state of the Clowes 1st and a Billings with the missing "." after Feanor.
There are SOOOOOOOOOOO many copies of the Sil for Sale, I can't see any reason ever to pay more than about $35 for a regular, unsigned/Non-dummy Silmarillion - remains the last bastion of cheap Tolkien.
Billings 1st/Billings 1st/Clowes 1st (Variant 1)/2nd/4th/5th/BCA 77/BCA 78
I still need the paper-covered state of the Clowes 1st and a Billings with the missing "." after Feanor.
There are SOOOOOOOOOOO many copies of the Sil for Sale, I can't see any reason ever to pay more than about $35 for a regular, unsigned/Non-dummy Silmarillion - remains the last bastion of cheap Tolkien.

Whipped together a facsimile jacket for my Essays and Studies. Back flap is blank as I didn't have the info for it (and wasn't that bothered, tbh). Front flap just has the price as per the original. Makes my cheapy ex-lib that I bought some time back look tidier on the shelf.








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