The Silmarillion -by J R R Tolkien ---with Fold Out Map at Rear ( 1st State Dustjacket )( The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit / Middle Earth related) (includes Family Trees, Index of Names, etc)

London, England: London, UK: George Allen & Unwin ( William Clowes and Sons, Printers ), 1977, 1st Edition, First Printing ( 1st State Dustjacket ) , 1977. ----------( 1st Printing of the FIRST EDITION -export edition ) ---hardcover, a very nice example (actually one of the nicest copy we have had ) with a bit of light rubbing to tips, tight and square, fold-out map at rear is intact, blue stain (as issued) on upper edge of text block is slightly faded, --- in a Very Good+/Near Fine dustjacket, light rubbing to dustjacket, NO fading to the red lettering on the spine, --- jacket is now in a hi-quality mylar protector, fold-out map is intact (short closed tear on one corner), --- as per Currey this is trhe first state as the dustjacket is unpriced being designed for the export market (no price on the flap so each receiving country could price the book according to their currency), page 330, line four [period lacking after Feanor] and page 352, line 39 ["and" is italicized between italicized "Lord of Waters", "King of Sea", as well, the printer's info on the copyright page is correct mentioning 11 on 12 point type and Clowes, black and red map facing page 121, ---five pages of family tree info near back of the book (around page 304 ), ---published after JRRT's death this was edited by Tolkien's son Christopher with the uncredited assistance of Guy Gavriel Kay, ---contents include: Foreword; Ainulindale; Valaquenta; Quenta Silmarillion (The History of the Silmarils ); Akallabeth; Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age; Tables - genealogies ( House of Finwe / Descendants of Olwe and Elwe / House of Beor / House of Hador and The People of Haleth ) The Sundering of the Elves; Notes on Pronunciation; Index of Names; Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin names,---" The Silmarillion is the core of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, a work whose origins stretch back to a time long before The Hobbit. -Tolkien considered The Silmarillion his most important work, and, though it was published last and posthumously, this great collection of tales and legends clearly sets the stage for all his other writing. The story of the creation of the world and of the First Age, this is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The three Silmarils were jewels created by Feanor, most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor before the Trees themselves were destroyed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter, the unsullied Light of Valinor lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth and set in his crown, which was guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth. The Silmarillion is the history of the rebellion of Feanor and his kindred against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless despite all their heroism, against the great Enemy. --This is the story of the First Age, the ancient drama to which characters in "The Lord of the Rings" look back. "---, any image directly beside this listing is the actual book and not a generic photo ///NOT SIGNED ---GUARANTEED to be AVAILABLE/// ---size is approximate (generally within 1/8 inch)---. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine (see desciption)/Very Good+ (see description). Illus. by J R R Tolkien cover Art. 5.75w x 9h Inches. Flap Not Clipped.