‘Essential’ secondary works

Is there a Tolkien fan that does not own a David Day book?!

I think you mean to say, is there a Tolkien fan who has not, at multiple points in his life, been gifted with a David Day book?

I don't have a David Day book! :)

I'd personally put, off the top of my head, Garth's Tolkien & the Great War & Shippey's Road to Middle-earth before Foster &/or Fonstad. Also, the Hx of Middle-earth Index isn't by a Tolkien...

Everything by Wayne & Christina is worth having too.

I'll second Garth's Tolkien & The Great War should be on the list of utility and high regard, as well as Wayne & Christina's ouvre.

But the first question was asking which books were not by Tolkien but virtually every Tolkien fan owns. I have to agree that David Day's got a good chance of making it into many a collection...

I'm thinking that the Atlas is not in many a recently built collection, due to it having fallen out of print and not being widely discussed. A shame!

Thanks for the input. I didn’t realize Garth was so popular. Its appeal isn’t immediately obvious to me, but, I’ll just have to give it another look.

What particular books do you like by Hammond & Scull?

I don't own the Robert Foster book. I had it on my shelf but never touched it and gave it to a friend.

I have been gifted many David Day books. I in turn have gifted them.... to the bin.

As to what is essential depends what area a reader is approaching from. I consider Tolkien's Gedling, Tolkien's Bag-end, Black & White Ogre Country and many other books that give minor connections to the man himself as essential. Others may only require a hint of biographical background and the official biography is enough, they would not need to read Gedling for instance and will not miss it.

Obviously the books listed by others above would be on my list too.

Ulmo wrote:
Thanks for the input. I didn’t realize Garth was so popular. Its appeal isn’t immediately obvious to me, but, I’ll just have to give it another look.

What particular books do you like by Hammond & Scull?

The Hammond/Scull Companion and Guide is indispensable. Their three art volumes are the standard works on Tolkien's artistic output. Want an annotated LoTR? Then you need the Reader's Companion.

I have all the Hammond/Scull Art books. I’ll have to start collecting everything else. Will the J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide receive a Houghton Mifflin edition?

The only hardcover editions of the Atlas are the HM 1st ed., and the revised ed. from Easton Press, is that correct?

What about Journeys of Frodo — anyone have it? I have long heard of it, but never seen one in the flesh.

Ulmo wrote:
What about Journeys of Frodo — anyone have it? I have long heard of it, but never seen one in the flesh.

Have a look on Abebooks for a copy, https://affiliates.abebooks.com/c/9724 ... 2Bfrodo%26kn%3D%26isbn%3D