21 Apr, 2010
2010-4-21 12:12:30 AM UTC
I have a map of middle earth in poster format that I'm looking to find information on. I've looked around a bit online and only found one site that appears to reference long-past eBay auctions.
Size is 23.5" x 37"
Definitely some wear and tear and tape residue. But overall I think it's in decent shape... no mold or mildew and I think the colors haven't faded.
I've had this since I was a kid and I believe it came from my sister originally. The two references I found mention dates of 1966 and 1970.
Any suggestions on how to identify this poster (it has slightly different markings than the photos in the 1966 listing) and ultimately, any guidance on whether this is valuable or not? Is it worth putting up on eBay or taking it to a collector of these items? Or are these commonplace and I should just toss it?
---Lawrence
21 Apr, 2010
2010-4-21 12:22:14 AM UTC
Ok, so I just found this page on this site:
Barbara Remington's "Map of Middle-earth"Definitely the same poster. But were there different versions/printings that can affect the value, and are these valuable in general? Is there any other information I should be aware of that would affect the collectability?
Thanks,
---Lawrence
21 Apr, 2010
2010-4-21 4:32:54 PM UTC
Hi Lawrence,
I don't have Tolkienalia (Beyond Bree catalog) in front of me today, so I am winging it a bit here, but in general:
- There doesn't seem to be any significant difference in valuation that I have seen between any of the various printings. This poster was in print for a little while during the late 1960s, but I don't recall offhand when they stopped making them.
- It is scarce enough that even damaged copies such as yours will make it worth selling rather than throwing away. eBay or here would be your best bet overall.
- There is a third Remington poster that I have not added to the Guide yet (the "Come to Middle-earth" version) even though I have one tucked away. Just no time to get the camera out recently...
- I usually haven't seen these folded, just rolled. I am thinking that your copy came with one of the fan club mailings rather than from a bookstore, but that is just a guess.
- Do you have a significant chunk of the poster missing on the left side near the middle? That would probably be the one of the larger defects to affect value.
- Can you send a snapshot (or type in) the text information printed in the lower corners? That will be useful to document the variations of this poster produced (but as I said, no-one seems to care when they care collecting these, that I am aware of).
Thanks for posting!
23 Apr, 2010
2010-4-23 10:24:46 PM UTC
Thanks Jeremy,
Here are the bottom corners:
As you can see, what I assume to be the price (from other photos I've found online) has been blacked out with a marker, but you can just make out the "49" at the end of it.
There is a piece missing on the left side, as well as a few tears. The largest of which is on the left side about 1/4 of the way up. It's about 1.5". The couple others are less than half an inch. I'll get more detailed photos before I make this available.
I could have come rolled originally, but I remember it being folded when I got it as a kid. The folding doesn't seem to be very exact -- i.e. it doesn't fold exactly square. It seems like if it was being folded "professionally" it would have been done better, but perhaps the original folding was better and it has just been badly refolded since then? The blacked out price might also be indicative of a fan club mailing though -- hiding the price for people who received it as part of their membership?
---Lawrence
26 Apr, 2010
2010-4-26 9:22:42 PM UTC
Don't know anything about it...but that is very, very beautiful.
26 Apr, 2010
2010-4-26 10:04:52 PM UTC
Just dug out my copy of Martsch's Tolkienalia, according to which
"I saw the first mention of it in 1975 ballantine paperback editions, for $1.49" (Gary Hunnewell).
I have a copy of the 'Come to Middle earth' poster; according to Martsch, this was produced in the late '60s.
I've also just noticed a mention (p.23) of four posters produced by The Middle Earthworm, England, 1970/71. Ooh! I have those; plus another, entitled 'Treebeard'. Never knew the firm was called that.
26 Apr, 2010
2010-4-26 10:44:26 PM UTC
Must. Get. Pictures. Can you send pics of the Middle Earthworm posters for the Guide?
26 Apr, 2010
2010-4-26 11:00:00 PM UTC
Sorry; I don't have a digital camera. And wouldn't know how to upload piccys even if I did.
*embarassed*
26 Apr, 2010
2010-4-26 11:22:53 PM UTC
In that case your assignment is to *sketch* the posters. Alternatively mail them to me.
27 Apr, 2010
2010-4-27 7:06:07 AM UTC
I will ask the Tolkien Society's archivist if she has the Middle Earthworm posters.
- wellinghall