The points of issue
Ed. Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 1996; copyright page carries the first-impression statement with no additional impressions noted.
Is this the true first?
UK HarperCollins true first; US Houghton Mifflin edition follows the same year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Peoples of Middle-earth (HoME vol. 12) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ed. Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 1996; copyright page carries the first-impression statement with no additional impressions noted.
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; US Houghton Mifflin edition follows the same year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ.
I have a first edition of The Peoples of Middle-earth (HoME vol. 12) — 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.