The points of issue
UK first: the copyright page states First published in 1977 with no later printing line. The folding map is present in a rear pocket. Green cloth with a gilt device. Dust jacket art is by Tolkien, the white emblem on a dark ground.
Is this the true first?
Both the UK Allen & Unwin and US Houghton Mifflin editions appeared in 1977. Precedence is disputed: the US Houghton Mifflin printing is reported to have been released in August 1977, slightly ahead of the UK Allen & Unwin publication in September 1977, so the US edition is sometimes argued to be the true first. A de luxe limited issue signed by Christopher Tolkien also exists.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US book club edition lacks a price on the jacket flap and typically shows a blind-stamped dot on the rear board, and may state Book Club Edition. Science Fiction Book Club printings are common.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Silmarillion a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK first: the copyright page states First published in 1977 with no later printing line. The folding map is present in a rear pocket. Green cloth with a gilt device. Dust jacket art is by Tolkien, the white emblem on a dark ground.
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. Both the UK Allen & Unwin and US Houghton Mifflin editions appeared in 1977. Precedence is disputed: the US Houghton Mifflin printing is reported to have been released in August 1977, slightly ahead of the UK Allen & Unwin publication in September 1977, so the US edition is sometimes argued to be th
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US book club edition lacks a price on the jacket flap and typically shows a blind-stamped dot on the rear board, and may state Book Club Edition. Science Fiction Book Club printings are common.
I have a first edition of The Silmarillion — 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.