The points of issue
Edited by Humphrey Carpenter with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 1981; first-impression statement on verso with no later impressions listed.
Is this the true first?
UK Allen & Unwin true first; US Houghton Mifflin 1981 follows. The revised and expanded 2023 edition is a distinct later text.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry impression notices; the expanded 2023 edition is not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Edited by Humphrey Carpenter with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 1981; first-impression statement on verso with no later impressions listed.
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 Allen & Unwin true first; US Houghton Mifflin 1981 follows. The revised and expanded 2023 edition is a distinct later text.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry impression notices; the expanded 2023 edition is not the first.
I have a first edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien — 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.