Uncorrected proof of the book, in a proof dust jacket, one of just two known copies. Tolkien objected to the style of facsimile signature used on the front wrapper and title page.
Publisher and Year: London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964
Edition: Uncorrected proof, in its original proof dust jacket. Issued in late January and/or very early February 1964, about four months before the 28 May 1964 publication of the first edition. Tolkien was sent his first proof copy on 27 January 1964 and received it on 1 February. He then received a proof dust jacket for review on 5 February.
Tolkien objected to the style of the facsimile signature used for the book, “Ronald Tolkien,” which he reserved for friends and close associates. He promptly wrote to the publisher: “I do not and never have used the signature ‘Ronald Tolkien’ as a ‘public’ or auctorial signature, and I do not think it suitable for this purpose.”
The “Ronald Tolkien” signature is believed to have been duplicated from one of Tolkien’s letters to Rayner Unwin. The presence of the author’s facsimile signature on the title page was a feature of the publisher’s “U Book” series, of which this title was a new entry. That signature was swiftly changed to the more familiar “J.R.R. Tolkien” for the first edition.
The book and dust jacket differ from the first edition in several other respects. In the book, Tom Bombadil is misspelled as “Tom Bombadie” on the leaf facing the title page. The copyright page (1) lacks “This edition” in the copyright line and (2) includes the publisher name and address in the middle of the page, which was later removed. The publisher advertisements that later appear in the first edition are not present here. On the dust jacket, there are several differences, including (1) another but different misspelling of Bombadil (“Bombadic”) on the rear panel, (2) a different order of the advertised books, (3) no review blurb for Farmer Giles, and (4) no em dash for the attribution of the blurb of The Times Literary Supplement.
Of note, the dust jacket is 0.25” taller than the wrappers. This is because the wrappers were trimmed to the height of the leaves (7.25”), whereas the dust jacket was cut to the height of the boards used for the first impression (7.50”). This sizing mismatch has also been observed in another proof copy of this book and an advance copy of Tolkien’s The Road Goes Ever On that was likewise bound in wrappers.
Only two examples have been publicly recorded. The first surfaced at auction in 2022 and was miscataloged as an ordinary first edition. The second, presented here, surfaced in 2024. The book and dust jacket of both copies appear identical. We have not been able to locate a third copy in an extensive search of the auction record.
(Hammond & Anderson, A7a/b; Scull & Hammond, 2006, pp. 603-618; 11 October 2022 auction, lot 167, Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers)
Condition and Description: Octavo, 7.25” x 4.75”, publisher’s teal wrappers with a printed facsimile signature, “Book Proof” stamped in blue ink, and the publication details written in ink just below. 92 pp. + 2 blank leaves that would later bear advertisements. Securely bound. Bookseller note in pencil to the first page and erased pencil next to it. Very faint impression of a paperclip to the upper-front panel of the dust jacket, front wrapper, and leaves up until the contents page. This is also present on the other known copy. It is likely that the paperclip was used to attach additional information about this copy, such as the individual to whom it was issued or instructions about what to do with it, as is sometimes found with proof copies. The presence of the paperclip impression on both the jacket and book suggests that these components were issued together as one unit to whomever was reviewing it, rather than separately as it appears was done with Tolkien. Clean and unmarked pages otherwise. Proof dust jacket has tanning to the spine and wear to the extremities (especially the top edge, which exceeds the height of the wrappers), light rubbing, and just a touch of soiling.
“Enchantment produces a Secondary World, into which both designer and spectator can enter, to the satisfaction of their senses while they are inside; but in its purity it is artistic in desire and purpose. Magic produces, or pretends to produce, an alteration in the Primary World. It does not matter by whom it is said to be practised, fay or mortal, it remains distinct from the other two; it is not an art but a technique; its desire is power in this world, domination of things and wills.”
Inventory ID: 359 - 749 - 110
Uncorrected proof of the book, in a proof dust jacket, one of just two known copies. Tolkien objected to the style of facsimile signature used on the front wrapper and title page.
Publisher and Year: London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964
Edition: Uncorrected proof, in its original proof dust jacket. Issued in late January and/or very early February 1964, about four months before the 28 May 1964 publication of the first edition. Tolkien was sent his first proof copy on 27 January 1964 and received it on 1 February. He then received a proof dust jacket for review on 5 February.
Tolkien objected to the style of the facsimile signature used for the book, “Ronald Tolkien,” which he reserved for friends and close associates. He promptly wrote to the publisher: “I do not and never have used the signature ‘Ronald Tolkien’ as a ‘public’ or auctorial signature, and I do not think it suitable for this purpose.”
The “Ronald Tolkien” signature is believed to have been duplicated from one of Tolkien’s letters to Rayner Unwin. The presence of the author’s facsimile signature on the title page was a feature of the publisher’s “U Book” series, of which this title was a new entry. That signature was swiftly changed to the more familiar “J.R.R. Tolkien” for the first edition.
The book and dust jacket differ from the first edition in several other respects. In the book, Tom Bombadil is misspelled as “Tom Bombadie” on the leaf facing the title page. The copyright page (1) lacks “This edition” in the copyright line and (2) includes the publisher name and address in the middle of the page, which was later removed. The publisher advertisements that later appear in the first edition are not present here. On the dust jacket, there are several differences, including (1) another but different misspelling of Bombadil (“Bombadic”) on the rear panel, (2) a different order of the advertised books, (3) no review blurb for Farmer Giles, and (4) no em dash for the attribution of the blurb of The Times Literary Supplement.
Of note, the dust jacket is 0.25” taller than the wrappers. This is because the wrappers were trimmed to the height of the leaves (7.25”), whereas the dust jacket was cut to the height of the boards used for the first impression (7.50”). This sizing mismatch has also been observed in another proof copy of this book and an advance copy of Tolkien’s The Road Goes Ever On that was likewise bound in wrappers.
Only two examples have been publicly recorded. The first surfaced at auction in 2022 and was miscataloged as an ordinary first edition. The second, presented here, surfaced in 2024. The book and dust jacket of both copies appear identical. We have not been able to locate a third copy in an extensive search of the auction record.
(Hammond & Anderson, A7a/b; Scull & Hammond, 2006, pp. 603-618; 11 October 2022 auction, lot 167, Brettells Auctioneers & Valuers)
Condition and Description: Octavo, 7.25” x 4.75”, publisher’s teal wrappers with a printed facsimile signature, “Book Proof” stamped in blue ink, and the publication details written in ink just below. 92 pp. + 2 blank leaves that would later bear advertisements. Securely bound. Bookseller note in pencil to the first page and erased pencil next to it. Very faint impression of a paperclip to the upper-front panel of the dust jacket, front wrapper, and leaves up until the contents page. This is also present on the other known copy. It is likely that the paperclip was used to attach additional information about this copy, such as the individual to whom it was issued or instructions about what to do with it, as is sometimes found with proof copies. The presence of the paperclip impression on both the jacket and book suggests that these components were issued together as one unit to whomever was reviewing it, rather than separately as it appears was done with Tolkien. Clean and unmarked pages otherwise. Proof dust jacket has tanning to the spine and wear to the extremities (especially the top edge, which exceeds the height of the wrappers), light rubbing, and just a touch of soiling.
“Enchantment produces a Secondary World, into which both designer and spectator can enter, to the satisfaction of their senses while they are inside; but in its purity it is artistic in desire and purpose. Magic produces, or pretends to produce, an alteration in the Primary World. It does not matter by whom it is said to be practised, fay or mortal, it remains distinct from the other two; it is not an art but a technique; its desire is power in this world, domination of things and wills.”
Inventory ID: 359 - 749 - 110
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