The points of issue
Ed. Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 2013 with printing number line including 1. A deluxe slipcased quarterbound issue with facsimile manuscript page also exists.
Is this the true first?
UK HarperCollins true first, published May 2013; the US first is from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fall of Arthur a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ed. Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 2013 with printing number line including 1. A deluxe slipcased quarterbound issue with facsimile manuscript page also exists.
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 true first, published May 2013; the US first is from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ.
I have a first edition of The Fall of Arthur — 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.