Farmer Giles of Ham. TOLKIEN, J. R. R.

First edition. This fantastical fable is set in a medieval version of Oxfordshire, where Tolkien lived and worked for most of his life. Written in 1937, the year Tolkien published The Hobbit, the story describes the encounters between Farmer Giles and giants, talking dogs, and a dragon. Pauline Baynes (1922-2008) was Tolkien's illustrator of choice. He was delighted with her illustrations for Farmer Giles, writing that "I am pleased with them beyond even the expectations aroused by the first examples. They are more than illustrations, they are a collateral theme. I showed them to my friends whose polite comment was that they reduced my text to a commentary on the drawings" (Scull & Hammond, p. 112). Baynes went on to illustrate The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, later editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and a number of Tolkien's posthumous works. Hammond & Anderson A4a. Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond, The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Chronology, 2017. Octavo. Two-colour frontispiece and plate, illustrations throughout, all by Pauline Baynes. Original orange cloth, spine lettered in blue, dragon illustration to front cover in blue, patterned endpapers, top edge blue. With dust jacket. Small bumps to extremities a few marks to boards, light foxing to edges; jacket rubbed, spine lightly sunned, a few small chips and three closed tears to front panel, unclipped: a very good copy in like jacket.