LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS. [Individual letters+envelopes.]

UK,slim Landscape 16mo HB,no dw/dj - as issued,1st edn thus. [Complete number line 1 3 5 7 10 8 6 4 2.Originally and first published as UK,slim Qrto HB,1st edn first published in 1976,preceding the US edn.Issued without a dw/dj,these were to be issued on subsequent US edns only.The UK HB 1st edn,was published with a low print run, believed to be only 50,000 copies worldwide.] No owner inscrptn,no board-printed price.] Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,glossy paper-covered boards with white background and colour pictorial illustration (Father Christmas) to front and red+black lettering to front+spine/ backstrip,rear board illustrated with facsimile letters and envelope and an assortment of thumbnail colour pictorial illustrations taken from a selection of the letters,and colour pictorial illustrated pastedowns; with negligible shelf-wear, bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges slightly aged/toned; contents bright,tight and clean - lower edges of front pastedown and title with minimal blemishes,no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips - 2 envelopes' top,rear right-hand corners (facing you) are with accidental creasing from page turning and book's closing,else would appear either little or unread, other than my own collation. UK,slim Landscape 16mo HB,no dw/dj - as issued,1st edn thus,44pp [unpaginated] includes colour pictorial illustrated pastedowns,colour vignetted title page,an introduction with b/w illustration to its reverse,10 facsimile illustrated envelopes' fronts and rears with folded facsimile colour pictorial illustrated letters with black text of letter's content to its reverse as enclosures,each envelope's front+ rear faced with a colour illustration either with or without text.
This edition features the letters and drawings contained in individual envelopes to be read in the manner they were originally conceived to be.
An uncommon collectable HB 1st edn in a remarkable condition and state of preservation and presentation.An unusual item/ephemera in Tolkien's bold style and will be an important and welcome addition to the Tolkien canon.
Want more J.R.R. TOLKIEN titles? For similar and other available titles - please search my MODERN FIRSTS2,1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die,and/or CHILDRENS/ILLUSTRATED catalogues.
A collection of letters written and illustrated by Tolkien himself,between 1920 and 1943 for his children, supposedly from Father Christmas.They were released posthumously by the Tolkien estate on 2 September 1976, which was the 3rd anniversary of Tolkien's death.They were edited by Baillie Tolkien,second wife of his youngest son, Christopher,and it includes illustrations by Tolkien for nearly all the letters; however,it omitted several letters and drawings.It was the third work by Tolkien to be released posthumously,after a collection of poems and the 'Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings.Warmly received by critics,it has been suggested that elements of the stories inspired parts of Tolkien's major work,the trilogy of 'The Lord of the Rings.'
When the book was republished in 1999 it was retitled 'Letters from Father Christmas.' and several letters and drawings not contained in the original edition were added.
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