4 Jan, 2013
2013-1-4 3:15:43 PM UTC
Good day! I joined these forums because I was given something that I'm not quite sure of. My sister had found a copy of The Silmarillion at a used book store for $5.00. It appears to be a first edition. However, I have no real way of knowing. Or, for that matter, if it holds any real value.
It does have a map attached to the final page:
But what I was mostly curious about was a signature on the right side of the inside cover:
And then a serial number?
It may all be nothing. I'll admit, I have no experience in rare books or collecting. But the fact that it's a London-printed 1977 edition was enough to spark my curiosity. I've seen versions with this cover being sold online anywhere from $20 to $650. So that tells me either there are true rare first editions and some not-so-rare prints...or there is no true value inherent in this book and it's just a matter of what you can convince someone it's worth. Any help you all could offer would be immensely appreciated!
4 Jan, 2013
2013-1-4 4:59:38 PM UTC
The good news is that it is a first edition of the UK Silmarillion.
These were issued in very high numbers and also there are different printers for the first printing (Billings or Clowes). You can see the printer under the page that says First published in 1977.
If it says Clowes then there are another couple of points to look at, collectors tend to prefer the Clowes printing as it is felt to be an earlier version than the Billinsg version.
I have no idea who the signature is, probably the original owner, and this would detract from value.
The serial number appears to be 1st £20.
I would think it is probably worth between £5-£15 pounds, could be more if it is a Clowes copy, but not much.
4 Jan, 2013
2013-1-4 6:11:55 PM UTC
I agree with everything Trotter says, regarding it being: a first edition; it being (also) a first impression; the signature being (probably) a previous owners; & the "serial number" actually being (probably a booksellers) price i.e. "1st £20".
To further narrow it down: who is the printer (to bottom of copyright pg.)?; does the jacket carry a printed price?; & are the tops of the pg. edges dyed blue?
Aside from all this, it's worth £20 tops.
BH
4 Jan, 2013
2013-1-4 7:59:04 PM UTC
The pages are dyed. I'd say black, but it's very possible it was a dark blue originally. There is a price of £4.95 printed on the dust cover. I don't have the book on me until later so I couldn't say who the publisher is.
19 Mar, 2016
2016-3-19 11:32:20 PM UTC
Worth adding, that the dealers who try to sell these books online for $650 (as you mention) are purely looking for suckers to rip-off. Unfortunately, amongst the many good book dealers, Tolkien collecting has also attracted a few less than scrupulous dealers over the years, some of whom are still quite active on eBay and Abe. Fortunately, now the LOTR mania has long-passed, things have substantially quietened down, so most of these books listed at "scam" prices will likely not find buyers.
The good news is that you weren't ripped off for your $5! It might not be worth a huge lot more than that, but the price you paid was perfectly fair!
27 Mar, 2021
2021-3-27 4:02:48 AM UTC
Ligandil wrote:
I stumbled upon this thread and I’m really, really surprised that a first edition, first print of The Silmarillion is only worth 10-20 pounds. I would expect it to be much more expensive!
I’m looking to purchase one but they rarely go below $80 on eBay. I saw some on AbeBooks for ~ $50 but there rarely have pictures available.
I haven't paid much attention the last few months, but up until then they were definitely many selling for £10-20. I think there were 370,000 copies (IIRC a discussion on here a few weeks ago). They have no rarity value whatsoever.
Edit: Just looked on eBay sold listings and they have often been selling for £60 recently. We are seriously in an inflationary cycle. Crazy.
27 Mar, 2021
2021-3-27 4:07:39 AM UTC
I see, thanks!
I of course don’t want it for its monetary value since I would never resell it (it goes against my principles), but it would be nice indeed to have a first edition because of what this book means to me.
27 Mar, 2021
2021-3-27 4:15:14 AM UTC
Ligandil wrote:
I see, thanks!
I of course don’t want it for its monetary value since I would never resell it (it goes against my principles), but it would be nice indeed to have a first edition because of what this book means to me.
They are nice books, but I'd tend to suggest just keeping your eye in eBay UK for a sensibly priced copy. The current prices on these won't hold.
27 Mar, 2021
2021-3-27 12:10:19 PM UTC
Ligandil wrote:
I stumbled upon this thread and I’m really, really surprised that a first edition, first print of The Silmarillion is only worth 10-20 pounds. I would expect it to be much more expensive!
I’m looking to purchase one but they rarely go below $80 on eBay. I saw some on AbeBooks for ~ $50 but there rarely have pictures available.
Prices are a little crazy right now but that will change, thank goodness TG exists because there are lots of people out there paying stupid money for these books, I hope some of them find their way here.
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