Identifying Silmarillion 1977 export edition
24 Oct, 2011
(edited)
2011-10-24 9:06:09 PM UTC
2011-10-24 9:06:09 PM UTC
I see a lot of 1977 Silmarillion copies for sale on Ebay but I have a bit of trouble identifying the correct version. From tolkienbooks.net I understand I should be looking for the first state of the export edition.
They describe two states of the first edition and add that "Minor textual differences indicate that Variant 1 was printed before Variant 2."
State 1: Dark blue cloth binding, with blue and white striped headband, dyed blue top edge and dark blue coloured dustwrapper.
State 2: Dark blue textured paper binding, no headband, no dye to top edge and purple/blue coloured dustwrapper.
Most sellers only include a photo of the front of the dustwrapper.
So my question is can I identify a first state from a photo like that or should I ask for additional photos of the book without the dustwrapper. And if so is it easy to see the difference between a "Dark blue cloth binding" and a "Dark blue textured paper binding" from a photo. Does anybody have photos for me as an example.
Additionally suppose I should find a first state of this book how much should I reasonably expect to pay for it?
They describe two states of the first edition and add that "Minor textual differences indicate that Variant 1 was printed before Variant 2."
State 1: Dark blue cloth binding, with blue and white striped headband, dyed blue top edge and dark blue coloured dustwrapper.
State 2: Dark blue textured paper binding, no headband, no dye to top edge and purple/blue coloured dustwrapper.
Most sellers only include a photo of the front of the dustwrapper.
So my question is can I identify a first state from a photo like that or should I ask for additional photos of the book without the dustwrapper. And if so is it easy to see the difference between a "Dark blue cloth binding" and a "Dark blue textured paper binding" from a photo. Does anybody have photos for me as an example.
Additionally suppose I should find a first state of this book how much should I reasonably expect to pay for it?
I've had a rant about this fairly recently on these forums! 
(I'm sure someone, Trotter!, could find it & provide a link here.)
Firstly, from a value perspective, there should be very little difference (paid) between 1st impressions.
Clearly the correction of the italicized "and" in the Ulmo entry (or the very assumption that there was an error and it was then corrected i.e. this order) is the distinguishing point differentiating the two states of the Clowes 1st impression.
Yes, the other features (cloth/paper binding; presence, or not of headbands; & dyed top edge, or not) can be used to identify the two states --but they should not be absolutely trusted.
The DJ shade is difficult to ascertain from photos. The other points are easy to see, provided (as you discuss) good images are provided. But, ultimately, the error(s) (or correction(s) of them) identify the priority of the sheets themselves --nothing else.
As I've mentioned previously: I have a paper bound Clowes 1st, review copy. And, there are intermediate states of practically every other impression & book club variant. These aren't, I believe, binding mistakes or errors, as someone previously suggested. They simply used a lot of different printers, and printed many, many copies.
So, if the seller can be trusted, I'd get straight to the point & just ask about the Ulmo error. I wouldn't pay more than £10 for a copy of The Silmarillion.
BH
(I'm sure someone, Trotter!, could find it & provide a link here.)
Firstly, from a value perspective, there should be very little difference (paid) between 1st impressions.
Clearly the correction of the italicized "and" in the Ulmo entry (or the very assumption that there was an error and it was then corrected i.e. this order) is the distinguishing point differentiating the two states of the Clowes 1st impression.
Yes, the other features (cloth/paper binding; presence, or not of headbands; & dyed top edge, or not) can be used to identify the two states --but they should not be absolutely trusted.
The DJ shade is difficult to ascertain from photos. The other points are easy to see, provided (as you discuss) good images are provided. But, ultimately, the error(s) (or correction(s) of them) identify the priority of the sheets themselves --nothing else.
As I've mentioned previously: I have a paper bound Clowes 1st, review copy. And, there are intermediate states of practically every other impression & book club variant. These aren't, I believe, binding mistakes or errors, as someone previously suggested. They simply used a lot of different printers, and printed many, many copies.
So, if the seller can be trusted, I'd get straight to the point & just ask about the Ulmo error. I wouldn't pay more than £10 for a copy of The Silmarillion.
BH
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