1976 JRR Tolkien The Father Christmas Letters / Highly Sought After / 1st UK Edition, 3rd Impression / In Good Condition / Illustrated

In good condition, here is a lovely vintage copy of The Father Christmas Letters, also known as Letters from Father Christmas, a collection of letters written and illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien between 1920 and 1942 for his children, from Father Christmas. They were released posthumously by the Tolkien estate on 2 September 1976, the 3rd anniversary of Tolkien’s death (this copy is a first edition, third impression from that year). They were edited by Baillie Tolkien, second wife of his youngest son, Christopher. The book was warmly received by critics, and it has been suggested that elements of the stories inspired parts of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Published by George Allen and Unwin, London.

The stories are told in the form of a series of letters, recounted either from the point of view of Father Christmas or his elvish secretary. They document the adventures and misadventures of Father Christmas and his helpers, including the North Polar Bear and his two sidekick cubs, Paksu and Valkotukka. The stories include descriptions of the massive fireworks that create the northern lights and how Polar Bear manages to get into trouble on more than one occasion.

This edition is a hardback, large-format publication which allows more room to highlight the illustrations and the detailed text of the letters (see photos). 

Inside the pages are clean and tightly bound. Has some mild light tanning and spotting to the endpapers and around the outside and edges of the pages. This copy has not been written in and there are no other markings of previous ownership.

The colourful boards are also good. Has a bump to the bottom corner of the rear board (see final close-up photo), and a small nick to the spine on the back half-way down. With some slight rubbing to the corners and spine ends. Has the original 1976 price sticker for £2.50 on the back.

Increasingly popular and hard to get hold of in the original early edition. Your vintage copy of The Father Christmas Letters will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift message to the parcel if desired.

H 28.5 cm x W 23 cm 0.38 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. (There are just a very few countries which I am unable to ship to). 

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* If you would prefer your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging please add a note to the order.

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