Tree and Leaf – J.R.R. Tolkien – 1965 | First American Printing

Tree and Leaf by J.R.R. Tolkien is a beautiful pairing of 20th-century literary criticism and imaginative fiction by the famed author of The Lord of the Rings. Issued in 1965 by Houghton Mifflin in Boston, this volume is the first American printing of Tolkien’s critical essay On Fairy-Stories, a text in which he coined the trope “eucatastrophe” (or the “sudden joyous turn”) and mounted a defense of fantasy as a serious literary genre. The essay is paired with the symbolic short story Leaf by Niggle; both works together present a clear synthesis of Tolkien’s artistic philosophy especially regarding the centrality of myths in the creative process. Both works explore themes of sub-creation, and the tension between artistic vision and communal duty.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Tree and Leaf
• Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
• Publisher: Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company
• Edition: First U.S. Edition, First Printing, 1965
• Binding: Original blue cloth, original dust jacket
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~ 8.5 in x 5.5 in (21.6 cm x 14 cm)
• Collation: viii, 112 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Introduction
  • On Fairy-Stories essay
  • Leaf by Niggle short story

Condition:

Very Good. The cloth hardcover boards show only light rubbing and edgewear, and the hinges are intact and secure. Internally, the text block is slightly loose but intact. The pages are marginally age-toned but free of foxing; the orange topstain has faded but is still visible. The text has been annotated by a previous, engaged reader. The Original dust jacket is in Very Good condition, with some chips missing along the edges and discoloration to the rear panel, but it has retained its color and the $4.00 price has not been clipped.

Why Collect This?

• First American printing of Tolkien’s On Fairy-Stories
• Features foundational essay and allegorical tale in one volume
• Key issue for Tolkien collectors

Item Number: #31102