1979 A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day J.R.R. Tolkien Lord Of The Rings Book 1st

"A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day is an extensively illustrated guide to the creatures, peoples, kingdoms and mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth and the Undying Lands. Arranged as an accessible reference work, Day examines the many races, monsters, animals, deities and other beings inhabiting Tolkien's legendarium, placing them within the broader history and geography of Arda. The volume also incorporates a chronology of Middle-earth and the Undying Lands, genealogical material, indexes and an impressive double-page map presenting a composite interpretation of the lands through the different ages.

A major attraction of the work is its extraordinary visual treatment, with more than one hundred black-and-white illustrations and numerous full-colour paintings contributed by an accomplished group of fantasy artists including Ian Miller, Michael Foreman, Allan Curless, Lidia Postma, John Blanche, Pauline Martin, Sue Porter, Linda Garland, Jaroslav Bradac, Victor Ambrus and John Davis. The resulting imagery ranges from intricate depictions of Tolkien's creatures and characters to dramatic full-page and double-page interpretations of the landscapes and cities of Middle-earth, making the book as much an illustrated celebration of Tolkien's world as a reference volume.

Published in London by Mitchell Beazley Publishers Limited in 1979, this is the First Edition of a book which has subsequently appeared in numerous editions and formats. This substantial original edition remains in its striking unclipped illustrated dustjacket, retaining the publisher's original £12.50 price together with the introductory £9.95 price valid until 31 December 1979. With its large-format presentation, original artwork, map, chronologies and extensive reference material, the first edition of A Tolkien Bestiary remains an attractive vintage Tolkien-related publication and a particularly impressive volume for display."