# Is "Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth" by J.R.R. Tolkien a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien (George Allen & Unwin, 1980) is identified by: Edited by Christopher Tolkien. UK Allen & Unwin true first; US Houghton Mifflin edition followed later in 1980.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Edited by Christopher Tolkien
- UK first impression 1980; folding Map of Middle-earth bound in at the rear; first-impression statement on verso
- First-impression dust jackets are characteristically printed with pale blue ink that appears faded even on unhandled copies
- Publisher imprint reads George Allen & Unwin
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Publisher | George Allen & Unwin |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Edited by Christopher Tolkien |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Edited by Christopher Tolkien. UK first impression 1980; folding Map of Middle-earth bound in at the rear; first-impression statement on verso. First-impression dust jackets are characteristically printed with pale blue ink that appears faded even on unhandled copies.

## Is this the true first?
UK Allen & Unwin true first; US Houghton Mifflin edition followed later in 1980.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and book-club issues carry impression notices and lack the first-state jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth* by J.R.R. Tolkien a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/unfinished-tales-of-n-menor-and-middle-earth
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.