Tolkien Collector's Guide
Sign In
Tolkien Collector's Guide
Important links:

Guide to Tolkien's Letters
-
Winner of the 2019 Tolkien Society award for Best Website

Das Silmarillion Luxusausgabe

26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 6:24:51 PM UTC

I was thinking of purchasing a Tolkien book in German (I don't know German, but I plan to learn it soon). That said, I saw this recent 2017 Silmarillion edition. It's a bit expensive, but I'm ordering something from Amazon already, so I figured I might take advantage of the shipping and order it.

Is someone here familiar with this edition? I haven't seen a lot of photos (just the same one in many places). Would you say it's worth its price? The description says it is leather bound, does someone know if it's real leather? It does look very beautiful.

Thanks in advance!

5161_60ae91ea4d9c8.jpeg 543X583 px
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 6:30:04 PM UTC
Was toying with the idea of buying myself.
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 7:10:04 PM UTC
Hi Ligandil,
Yes, this book is bound in real leather. It is part of a small series including “Der Hobbit” and “Der Herr der Ringe”.
Here are some more pics, but if you like to see more, please let me know.

4779_60ae9c6e4f8ef.jpeg 4032X3024 px

4779_60ae9c9d82e8e.jpeg 4032X3024 px

4779_60ae9cb85b4dc.jpeg 4032X3024 px

4779_60ae9cc96b052.jpeg 4032X3024 px

4779_60ae9cda28de7.jpeg 4032X3024 px
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 7:37:56 PM UTC
For some reason this edition of Das Silmarillion showed up on Amazon (USA) last year for a while, and I was able to get a copy for $42. I quite like it, it is well made.
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 7:48:32 PM UTC
Thanks for the wonderful pictures, Ithildin, I appreciate it. I think I'll go for it, my first German edition ! How come Der Herr der Ringe is as thick as Der Hobbit and Das Silmarillion? Is the font super small?

Urolókë, it's still in Amazon US (via Book Depository), but at $90 .
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 8:01:11 PM UTC

Ligandil wrote:

Thanks for the wonderful pictures, Ithildin, I appreciate it. I think I'll go for it, my first German edition ! How come Der Herr der Ringe is as thick as Der Hobbit and Das Silmarillion? Is the font super small?

Urolókë, it's still in Amazon US (via Book Depository), but at $90 .

The paper used for “Herr der Ringe” is very thin but from great quality, like paper of a Bible
26 May, 2021
2021-5-26 8:41:12 PM UTC

Ithildin wrote:

The paper used for “Herr der Ringe” is very thin but from great quality, like paper of a Bible

Ah I see, maybe similar to those beautiful HC india paper editions.

These three look magnificent together. Seems HdR is the hardest one to find, but for now I'll limit myself to the Silmarillion.
27 May, 2021
2021-5-27 1:46:44 AM UTC
These look nice. Worth saying that at the price, the "real leather" is likely 90% PVC (with a lot of bonded leather products, the leather is really there only to say "it is leather").
27 May, 2021
2021-5-27 4:00:35 AM UTC

Stu wrote:

These look nice. Worth saying that at the price, the "real leather" is likely 90% PVC (with a lot of bonded leather products, the leather is really there only to say "it is leather").

I guess you are right. Whereas „Der Herr der Ringe“ published in 2009 was in genuine sheep leather for a price of €129, the quality of the leather (and price - it was offered for €68) decreased with „Der Hobbit“ in 2012 and again with „Das Silmarillion“ starting in 2017 with €68, now €78.

But still apart from my 1st editions, these three are my favorite books in my German collection.
27 May, 2021
2021-5-27 7:08:20 AM UTC
I have this edition. I have no doubt (as Stu says) that this may be a borderline "leather" product only. Slipcase is also pretty flimsy; very thin book board used for construction. Nice enough as a tarted up standard release, but it's nothing more than this.

As side note: if something was "90% PVC" it would not (by pretty much any industry standards) be able to be claimed as a leather product. The use of the word "leather" in bonded leather still has the agreement (loosely) of a majority leather content.
Jump to Last
All original content ©2024 by the submitting authors. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us