The points of issue
First impression 1964; collects the essay On Fairy-Stories and the story Leaf by Niggle. First-impression statement on verso with no later impressions listed.
Is this the true first?
UK Allen & Unwin true first; US Houghton Mifflin 1965 follows in a slightly larger format with a different jacket design.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 1988 edition edited by Christopher Tolkien adds the poem Mythopoeia, and later combined editions add The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth; neither is the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tree and Leaf a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First impression 1964; collects the essay On Fairy-Stories and the story Leaf by Niggle. 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 1965 follows in a slightly larger format with a different jacket design.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 1988 edition edited by Christopher Tolkien adds the poem Mythopoeia, and later combined editions add The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth; neither is the first.
I have a first edition of Tree and Leaf — 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.