| Where it all started: The 1969 calendar with illustrations by Tim Kirk. It is still possible to find most of these (some with more patience than others) in like new or even mint condition. | |
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1969 Ken Rudolph A little known (except among collectors) fan art calendar; illustrations by Tim Kirk (see 1975 Ballantine following.) It was an insert into the December 1968 issue of Meretricious, Shangri l'Affaires Christmas Art Supplement 1968 edited by Ken Rudolph and Jim Schumacher. Ken et al were active in the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society (LASFS.) 8.5 x 11 inches (w x h); six pages with cover. Rarity: 7 As the first calendar, it is very special. I was fortunate to collect one in its original fanzine. It was relatively rare until 2014 when several dozen from Ken's files were discovered and sold. (m) |
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1973 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-02781-395 "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1973" First of the official Tolkien calendars; orange cover. Illustrations by Professor Tolkien and Pauline Baynes. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 7 - 9 The calendar shows up on eBay maybe once/month on average. The condition is usually not good and it commonly does not include the original mailer. So it's a 7 for the calendar, 8 with the mailer, 9 unopened. (x,m) |
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1974 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-02781-395 "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974" Same illustrations as the 1973 Ballantine; lavender cover. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 7 - 10 Same as the 1973 Ballantine for the same reasons. In fact, it may appear on eBay slightly less frequently than the 1973. Unopened copies appear only rarely (10.) (x,m) |
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1974 Faun Fantasy Press “The Myth and Fantasy Calendar” Created by Jonathan T. Hodge. Illustrations by nine different artists. It's an "oddity" in that only one illustration (see September) relates to Tolkien. But there are illustrations by Tolkien legends in here: Tim Kirk and the late Bernie Zuber (of The Tolkien Fellowship.) Limited edition of 1,000. (My copy is 22/1000.) 11 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches (w x h); stapled on the fold; punched hanging hole. Rarity: 8 I have seen it on eBay only twice. But there are a thousand of them "out there". (x) |
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1974 George Allen & Unwin ISBN: 0 04 529001 6 "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974" First of the series publish by Allen&Unwin. Illustrations by Professor Tolkien and Pauline Baynes. Dimensions: 13 x 12 3/8 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 6 - 9 This one appears on eBay at least once or twice a month on average usually without the mailer: 6. It would be a 7 if the mailer is included. Perhaps surprisingly, a number of these in unopened mailers have appeared on eBay over the years. So it's an 8 for one in that condition. (x,m) |
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1974 George Allen & Unwin Calendar Advertisement "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1974" Store advertisement for the 1974 Allen&Unwin J.R.R. Tolkien calendar. Heavy weight cardboard with fold out "stand" on the back and black string for hanging. 1974 Allen&Unwin J.R.R. Tolkien calendar attached (as per preceeding entry.) Dimensions: 14 7/8 x 19 7/8 inches (w x h.) Rarity: 10 Until I acquired this copy, I had never seen it before. (x) |
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1974 Het Spectrum
ISBN: 90 274 8242 X VARIANT: "Tolkien Kalender 1974" The first Dutch Tolkien calendar. First of numerous "variant" calendars: licensed by Allen&Unwin or Ballantine and translated into the language of the country in which it was issued. Same illustrations as the 1974 A&U (Professor Tolkien and Pauline Baynes) but all text in Dutch. Dimensions: 13 x 12 3/8inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 9 I have seen this one on eBay only once and know of only three copies of it (including one that is available from René at The Tolkien Shop). I have not seen it in the original mailer (10). (x) |
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1975 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-20061-6-395 "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1975" First of the calendars by an illustrator other than Professor Tolkien. The artwork was a portfolio done by Tim Kirk. Mr. Kirk spent 25 years as a Disney Imagineer and now has a design firm in Long Beach, CA. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; heavy cardboard mailer. Rarity: 6 - 10 The calendar without the mailer shows up once maybe twice a month on average on eBay: 6. It is much less common with the mailer: 8. I have a copy in an unopened mailer: 10. (x,m) |
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1975 Ballantine Books (Canada) ISBN: 345-20061-6-395 VARIANT: "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1975" Canadian edition (but, interestingly, the same ISBN as preceeding calendar); lithography by Ronalds Federated Graphics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Also, Farmer Maggot's last name is spelled correctly on the May illustration of this issue! Dimensions: 13 x 11.25 inches (w x h); stapled; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 9 Appears infrequently on eBay either with or without the mailer. But as a commercial issue, many copies should still exist. (x) |
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1975 Pant-Hoot Publications “The Pant-Hoot J.R.R. Tolkien Memorial Calendar 1975” First of the calendars by the American Tolkien Society. Illustrations by Philip W. Helms. 8.5 x 11 inches (w x h). Rarity: 10 I know of three copies of this calendar. |
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1976 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-24725-6-495 "1976 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar" Illustrations by the Brothers Hildebrandt. First of the trio (1976, 1977, and 1978) that they did. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy cardboard mailer. Rarity: 4 Somewhat common on eBay. With the mailer: 7. Does appear in an unopened mailer now and then: 8. (x,m) |
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1976 George Allen & Unwin ISBN: 0-04-549002-4 “The Hobbit Calendar 1976” Illustrations by Professor Tolkien (coloration by H. E. Riddett). Dimensions: 13 7/8 x 15.5 inches (w x h); wire bound; heavy wire hanging loop; medium-weight paperboard mailer printed with theme similar to the cover of the calendar. Rarity: 7 Appears on eBay with or without the mailer. (x) |
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1976 George Allen & Unwin (New Zealand) ISBN: 0 04 529002 4 VARIANT: “The Hobbit Calendar 1976” Illustrations by Professor Tolkien; colored by H. E. Riddett. Dimensions: 13 x 12.5 inches (w x h); stapled; light-weight, white paperboard mailer printed with theme similar to the cover of the calendar. Rarity: 9 Has appeared on eBay three times that I know of. As a commercial issue, assume that there are more "out there". But collecting issues from New Zealand is very difficult. (x) |
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1976 Methuen Publications (Toronto); copyright George Allen & Unwin ISBN: 0 458 91820 2 VARIANT: “The Hobbit Calendar 1976” Illustrations by Professor Tolkien (coloration by H. E. Riddett). Licensed by Allen&Unwin and published by Methuen (Toronto). Dimensions: 13 7/8 x 15.5 inches (w x h); wire bound; heavy wire hanging loop; glossy, light-weight paper mailer/envelope printed with theme similar to the cover of the calendar. Rarity: 8 Much less common than the A&U variant. (x) |
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1977 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-25135-0-495 "1977 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar" Illustrations by the Brothers Hildebrandt. Second of the trio (1976, 1977, and 1978) that they did. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; heavy-weight cardboard mailer. Rarity: 4 Somewhat common on eBay with or without the mailer. Does appear in an unopened mailer now and then: 7. (x,m) |
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1977 George Allen & Unwin ISBN: 0 04 529003 2 “The Lord of the Rings 1977 Calendar” Illustrations by Professor Tolkien. Cover: "Eye of Sauron". End page has some nice notations added by his son, Christopher. Dimensions: 11 7/8 x 15 inches (w x h); wire bound; heavy wire hanging loop; medium-weight paperboard mailer/envelope printed with theme similar to the cover of the calendar. Rarity: 6 Appears on eBay with or without the mailer. (x) |
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1977 George Allen & Unwin (Australia) ISBN: 0 04 529003 2 VARIANT: “The Lord of the Rings 1977 Calendar” Variant of the preceeding issue printed by Mastercraft Printing, Sydney, Australia. Dimensions: 11 7/8 x 15 inches (w x h); spiral wire bound; heavy wire hanging loop; light-weight white paper mailer/envelope printed with theme similar to the cover of the calendar. Rarity: 9 Has appeared on eBay once. I picked up a copy from a fellow collector. The only reason that this is a 9 instead of a 10 is that it is a commercial issue. So I must assume that there are more "out there." (x) |
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1977 George Allen & Unwin (New Zealand) ISBN: 0 04 529003 2 VARIANT: “The Lord of the Rings 1977 Calendar” Variant of the preceeding issue "Distributed by BOOK REPS (NZ) LTD. / Printed in N.Z. by Marfleet Litho Print Ltd." Illustrations with calendar months below are printed on both sides of the pages so this calendar is only eight pages total. Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 15 inches (w x h); punched hanging hole; saddle stapled; cardboard, tabbed on top mailer/envelope Rarity: 10 Has appeared on eBay once. As a commercial issue, assume that there are more "out there". But collecting issues from New Zealand is very difficult. (x) |
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1977 Permanent Press (div. of Thorin & Co.) "Calendar of Imladris" Fourteen black and white illustrations by John Pivovarnick, Michael Logan, Tom Santoski. Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 inches (w x h); stapled on the fold. Rarity: 10 I know of only two collectors who have one plus one in the Marquette University collection. (x) |
