Clowes Methuen: Going for $100, Duff Last Heard

 

An addendum of sorts.

Uncovered another small piece of information relating to the Clowes Methuen variant of The Silmarillion. This adds very little to what I wrote in the blogpost The Silmarillion — Clowes Methuen (1977), but is, I think, still worth stating. Some of the publishing detail of this ‘limited edition’ remains tantalisingly unclear. 

 

I stated that ‘booksellers received one copy for orders placed over a specific amount, believed to be at least one-hundred copies (ordered).’ Separately, commenting on the number of copies bound, I stated:

 

A cardboard promotional bookshop display from 1977—the content of which is quoted by Holford (TOLKIENBOOKS.NET) for his METHUEN entry (here)—states 500 copies were bound; however it is not clear if this figure can be relied upon. Another figure of 250—I have yet to identify the source of this figure—is also occasionally seen quoted by booksellers. A figure closer to 100 copies is believed to be more likely.

 

These two separate strands of Clowes Methuen publishing history—the bookseller order figure and the number of copies actually bound—are not intrinsically linked. However, I believe, over the years, the two have become conflated. 

 

In ‘The Year of The Silmarillion’ (1977) the Promotion Manager for METHUEN PUBLICATIONS was John Duff. In late 1978, in the run up to publication of the first paperback edition of The Silmarillion (1979), Duff was interviewed about Tolkien publishing in Canada. This was written up in an article by Margaret Hogan for THE GLOBE AND MAIL (‘Features Book Reviews—Paperbacks’, 23 December 1978, p. 35). In this article she states:

 

when Duff last heard, a limited edition (a promotion whereby booksellers got a special edition with 250 copies ordered) was going for $100.

 

I think this all but confirms that the ‘250 copies’ figure is in reference to the number of copies that booksellers were required to order. But this number has instead, I believe, become attached—probably many years ago—to the number of copies produced. I suggest it was probably only ever in reference to the former.

 

 

The bookseller order figure is little discussed and I assume of no interest to most. On the other hand, the number of Clowes Methuen variants produced is undoubtedly of more interest. Various figures are stated (without reference) by booksellers and collectors, but, other than Holford's 500 copies figure, I have yet to encounter any evidence of where these numbers derive from. Curiously, despite Holford being the only person (I know of) to provide any evidence, very few people seem to claim the 500 figure or cite TOLKIENBOOKS.NET. I suggested the figure is likely much lower, but provided no evidence beyond the recollections of former METHUEN PUBLICATIONS employee, Bill Minors. And unfortunately, at present, I can add nothing further.

I presume John was referring to Canadian dollars.

 

Also on SILMARILLION MINUTIAE

❆ The Silmarillion — Clowes Methuen (1977)