Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien - 1949

London - George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1949 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. First edition. A first edition, first tradeissue, of J. R. R. Tolkien's medieval fable. The story describes the encounters between Farmer Giles and a wily dragon named Chrysophylax, and how Giles manages to use these to rise from humble beginnings to rival the king of the land. Cheerfully anachronistic and light-hearted, the novel is set in a fantasy Great Britain of long ago, with mythical creatures, medieval knights, and primitive firearms. It is only tangentially connected with the author's Middle-earth legendarium: both were originally intended as essays in English mythology. With numerous lovelyillustrations by Pauline Baynes, whom Tolkien claimed had 'reduced my text to a commentary on her drawings', including two colour plates. One of only 4500 copies in trade binding, published 20 October 1949. Complete with its original unclipped dustwrapper. Condition: In an orangefull cloth binding with blue illustrative detailing to front board, with original dustwrapper. Externally, generally smart with some marks to boards only. Dustwrapper is in good condition. One closed tear to front has been carefully internally repaired with tape and is only visible with close inspection. Otherwise suffers from only a little discolouration and minor closed tears. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright andvery clean with only the occasional spot to the fore edge. Overall: VERY GOOD INDEED with a VERY GOOD dustwrapper..