Subject: Help Identifying a Sealed 1995 Houghton Mifflin Letters from Father Christmas

Hello everyone,

I’m hoping some experienced Tolkien collectors can help me identify my copy of Letters from Father Christmas.

Here are the details:

  • U.S. Houghton Mifflin edition
  • ISBN: 0-395-74132-7
  • Purchased new by me around the time it was released in 1995.
  • I am the original owner.
  • The book has remained unopened in its original factory shrink wrap ever since I bought it.
  • The original “With Real Pull-Out Letters” promotional sticker is still under the shrink wrap.
  • The back cover has the original $18.95 price.
  • It says “Printed in China.”
  • At the lower left corner of the back cover are the codes:
* 1095
* 6-97115

From my research, I’ve learned that the first Houghton Mifflin printing was released in October 1995, and later printings had a $19.95 price.

My questions are:

1. Does anyone know what the “1095” code represents?
2. Does anyone else own a factory-sealed copy with the same code?
3. Are there any external clues that identify a first printing without opening the shrink wrap?
4. Has anyone seen an actual sale of a factory-sealed U.S. copy?
5. Based on these details, what would you estimate the current collector value to be?

I’ve attached photographs of the front cover, back cover, and the lower back corner showing the codes.

Any information or comparison photos would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!