29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 7:36:10 PM UTC
This item from the "Wonders of eBay" thread was claimed to be the first time that "Homecoming" actually appeared on the cover of a book. Anyone know if this is a true claim?
Not first appearance(s) of the story, but actually printed on the cover of the book.
(not shown below - the paperback with the title in question. Will try to grab a better pic.)
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 7:39:14 PM UTC
I think this is probably correct, Essays and Studies(1953) does not mention the articles on the cover.
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 7:44:58 PM UTC
Just out of interest --who said it was the first time it had appeared on the cover of a book?
BH
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:02:42 PM UTC
The paperback was released separately in 1975 with the title on the cover, the first known box holding this book was in 1976 and this box is from 1977 (can't see if which exactly, since there are different boxes in my collection with different states of the hobbit in there). So if you want to know when the "title" first appeared on the cover of a book - that is in 1975. But might need to see if there is any earlier edition of The Tolkien Reader that also holds this title... but not that I'm aware of.
Just a question... why are we discussing when it first appeared on the cover of a book? This tale was published in 1953 and maybe over 100 times since then...
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:11:44 PM UTC
Just a question... why are we discussing when it first appeared on the cover of a book?
You have to ask this? Here?
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:16:15 PM UTC
The original claim was that it was (as far as the vendor knew) the first time that 'Beorhtnoth' appeared in print. Whether the word appeared on the cover of a book before or since is not in itself very significant. For one thing, the title is abbreviated - from 'The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son'.
As I've said in a previous post, one of my favourites is this -
http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details.php?reference=33420- at only 300 copies, this one is actually rare.
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:30:12 PM UTC
Trotter wrote:
"I think this is probably correct, Essays and Studies(1953) does not mention the articles on the cover."
Hang on, I'll just get my copy... here we are; the contents are listed on the rear cover of the dustjacket, with 'The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son by JRR Tolkien' in first place.
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:33:58 PM UTC
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:38:28 PM UTC
got some of those somewhere... (the limited edition that is... you guys post too much too fast)
29 Jan, 2012
2012-1-29 8:44:38 PM UTC
And this is why I asked the question - such an interesting discussion, and a reminder of a cool limited edition!
[Pay no mind to the sordid history leading up to this.....]
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