The points of issue
Edited by Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression: copyright page shows only the 1993 date with no later impressions indicated. ISBN 0-261-10304-0.
Is this the true first?
UK HarperCollins edition is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are noted on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Morgoth's Ring (HoME vol. 10) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Edited by Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression: copyright page shows only the 1993 date with no later impressions indicated. ISBN 0-261-10304-0.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK HarperCollins edition is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions are noted on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Morgoth's Ring (HoME vol. 10) — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.