# Is "The Lays of Beleriand (HoME vol. 3)" by J.R.R. Tolkien a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Lays of Beleriand (HoME vol. 3) by J.R.R. Tolkien (George Allen & Unwin, 1985) is identified by: Edited by Christopher Tolkien; third volume of The History of Middle-earth. UK Allen & Unwin (1985) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Edited by Christopher Tolkien; third volume of The History of Middle-earth
- UK George Allen & Unwin first edition, first impression, 1985, carrying the standard Allen & Unwin 'First published in 1985' statement on the copyright page with no later-impression dates added
- Bound in dark green boards, the spine ruled and lettered in gilt, with top edge stained green
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed publisher price at the lower flap corner (present and unclipped on a true first-state jacket) and the Allen & Unwin imprint
- ISBN 0 04 823277 7
- Publisher imprint reads George Allen & Unwin
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Publisher | George Allen & Unwin |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Edited by Christopher Tolkien; third volume of The History of Middle-earth |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Edited by Christopher Tolkien; third volume of The History of Middle-earth. UK George Allen & Unwin first edition, first impression, 1985, carrying the standard Allen & Unwin 'First published in 1985' statement on the copyright page with no later-impression dates added. Bound in dark green boards, the spine ruled and lettered in gilt, with top edge stained green. The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed publisher price at the lower flap corner (present and unclipped on a true first-state jacket) and the Allen & Unwin imprint; ISBN 0 04 823277 7.

## Is this the true first?
UK Allen & Unwin (1985) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition follows.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Allen & Unwin/Unwin Hyman impressions add printing dates to the copyright statement; identify a first only by the clean 'First published in 1985' line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Lays of Beleriand (HoME vol. 3)* by J.R.R. Tolkien a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-lays-of-beleriand-home-vol-3
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.