EARLY TOLKIEN POETRY - Leeds University Verse 1914-1924 [&] A Northern Venture -Flyer

Laid into the volume is the publisher’s flyer for the second edition of A Northern Venture from the previous year which also offered three poems by J R R Tolkien, being reprinted a month after first publication in July 1923 - this flyer possibly a unique survival.

J R R Tolkien established his academic career at the University of Leeds, joining as a Reader in 1920 before being promoted to Professor within a few years. By the time he left in 1925 he had established the School as a leader in Old Icelandic language and literature.

During his time in Leeds he published several poems in little magazines as well as more mainstream academic works and these early poems were often incorporated in the later works that made his name: The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. All of Tolkien’s periodical publications from this period are very scarce.

This collection was edited by Sydney Matthewman out of his Leeds home at 52 Belle Vue Road under his own imprint, The Swan Press.

DESCRIPTION: Small square format (14x17cm) publisher's printed wrappers, spine faded and minor wear to the yapp edges; further fading to the foreedge of the lower printed wrapper; Hammond & Anderson B5. Tolkien’s contributions appear at pp56-58.

The flyer is a single leaf (10x17cm) advertising the second edition of A Northern Venture. A little rubbing and browning to the head.

An Evening in Tavrobel was reprinted in Three Early Poems; The Lonely Isle was reprinted in Tolkien and the Great War and The Princess Ní also reprinted in Three Early Poems. Edition of 500 copies.