The Silmarillion. By J.R.R. Tolkien. First American Edition, First Printing, Fifth State. Houghton, Mifflin. New York, 1977.

There will probably never be a better fantasy author than J.R.R. Tolkien. His Lord of the Rings trilogy and its precursor, The Hobbit, have largely defined the whole genre. Tolkien’s genius for fantasy stems from his dedication to the philological history of England; that is, the myths, folklore, and languages of Middle Earth are deeply informed by the history of the British Isles and the English language. Mount Doom, for example, is not referred to as a “volcano” in Tolkien’s works because the word “volcano” is etymologically Latin, not English. Moreover, the Shire and its numerous subsections are named and conceived from English places–as are many other locations in Middle Earth–a quality that steeps his fantastical world in familiar realities. In The Silmarillion, many of these mythologies and mythic characters and places are compiled from Tolkien’s unpublished legendarium. The work is dense, imaginative, rich in connections and detail. It shows the wide range of Tolkien’s influences and knowledge, from the Kalevala to the Norse pantheon to the druidic myths of Britain, but always transposed on his fantastical Middle Earth. Published posthumously, The Silmarillion has become an important part of Tolkien’s writings. It allows dedicated readers to peek at the conceptual processes of his brilliant fantasy.

This first American edition, first printing, fifth state is in good condition. In the original green cloth, about-fine with only fading and rubbing to edges. Text block near-fine, only former owner’s signature to front free endpaper and minor soiling to bottom edge. With the tipped in foldout map. In the original dust jacket, good with chipping, creases, toning, and closed tears. Fifth state indicated by unbroken type on page 229 and gold embossing to binding. No priority is established between states.

A good first American edition of The Silmarillion.