# Is "The Shaping of Middle-earth (HoME vol. 4)" by J.R.R. Tolkien a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Shaping of Middle-earth (HoME vol. 4) by J.R.R. Tolkien (George Allen & Unwin, 1986) is identified by: Edited by Christopher Tolkien; fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth. UK Allen & Unwin (1986) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Edited by Christopher Tolkien; fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth
- UK George Allen & Unwin first edition, first impression, 1986, carrying the standard Allen & Unwin 'First published in 1986' statement on the copyright page with no later-impression dates added
- Bound in original boards with the spine lettered in gilt
- Octavo, 380 pages
- ISBN 0 04 823279 3
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed publisher price (present and unclipped on a true first-state jacket)
- Publisher imprint reads George Allen & Unwin

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Publisher | George Allen & Unwin |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Edited by Christopher Tolkien; fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Edited by Christopher Tolkien; fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth. UK George Allen & Unwin first edition, first impression, 1986, carrying the standard Allen & Unwin 'First published in 1986' statement on the copyright page with no later-impression dates added. Bound in original boards with the spine lettered in gilt. Octavo, 380 pages; ISBN 0 04 823279 3. The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed publisher price (present and unclipped on a true first-state jacket).

## Is this the true first?
UK Allen & Unwin (1986) 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; a first shows only the clean 'First published in 1986' line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Shaping of Middle-earth (HoME vol. 4)* by J.R.R. Tolkien a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-shaping-of-middle-earth-home-vol-4
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.