Original Nasmith Silmarillion Dust Jacket
25 Aug, 2016
(edited)
2016-8-25 5:35:35 AM UTC
2016-8-25 5:35:35 AM UTC
I'm trying to track down the original "Red" version (as opposed to the Blue of 2004) of the HarperCollins Nasmith-illustrated Silmarillion (1998 and 2000 according to TolkienBooks.net). From what I can tell, there are two variations of the dust jacket, which differ on the spine. The seemingly most common displays author and title longitudinally on either side of a short miniature of an illustration. The version I'm trying to find, though, more closely matches these spines [http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details.php?reference=87400] with a taller picture, and the Tolkien's name listed laterally in smaller letters. It's hard to find a picture, but you can see it in the photo at the bottom of this archived TolkienBookshelf.com page [https://web.archive.org/web/2014082405 ... rBy=title&category_id=242]. I don't think it's as simple as the 1998 printing being one, and the 2000 being the other. It seems both can be found on the 1998. TolkienBooks.net doesn't say anything about it that I can find. Does anyone have information on this? Better yet, can you help me find the version I'm seeking?
This is the "common" version [https://www.hcbooksonline.com/browse-a ... llins-1998/prod_2867.html]
David at The Tolkien Bookshelf was quite kind to provide the original high-resolution image of the dustjacket he had for sale. I have attached that below.
I can say the following: my personal copy looks like the "common" dustjacket spine design shown above in the thread. However, on the inside flap, it has the following for pricing info:
The picture from David fairly clearly shows just the price of £24.99 on the flap. My theory is that David's copy was an updated dustjacket from 1999 at the least, or perhaps from the 2000 reprint. It is also possible that there was a last minute decision to have the "discount" priced dustjacket, and so David's copy could predate the "common" copy. David's copy definitely has the same ISBN as my first impression in "common" dustjacket.
I don't see any other differences in the dustjackets other than the spine and price info (just from the photo, I obviously don't have both in hand.)
I can say the following: my personal copy looks like the "common" dustjacket spine design shown above in the thread. However, on the inside flap, it has the following for pricing info:
£19.99 until 31 December 1998
£24.99 from 1 January 1999
The picture from David fairly clearly shows just the price of £24.99 on the flap. My theory is that David's copy was an updated dustjacket from 1999 at the least, or perhaps from the 2000 reprint. It is also possible that there was a last minute decision to have the "discount" priced dustjacket, and so David's copy could predate the "common" copy. David's copy definitely has the same ISBN as my first impression in "common" dustjacket.
I don't see any other differences in the dustjackets other than the spine and price info (just from the photo, I obviously don't have both in hand.)
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