| The lean years for Tolkien calendars: two issues in 1982, one in 1983, and five in 1984. Contains the rare Pillinger Shire Calendars. Tolkien calendars were essentially not issued at all in 1983. While the Antioch 1983 Fantasy Calendar is listed, it contains only a single Tolkien-related illustration (as noted in its entry below). | |
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1981 Ballantine Books ISBN: 345-28890-4 “The 1981 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar The Great Illustrators Edition” Illustrations by five artists. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; shrinkwrapped. Rarity: 4 Shrinkwrapped: 8 Common on eBay. (x,m) |
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1981 Ballantine Books ISBN: 0-345-29191-3 “The 1981 J.R.R. Tolkien Desk Calendar” Illustrations by the Brothers Hildebrandt (previously published in the calendars noted above). Dimensions: 8 3/8 x 8 inches (w x h); plastic comb bound. Rarity: 8 May appear on ebay only once or twice a year. (x) |
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1981 Methuen Publications (Agincourt, ON, Canada) ISBN: 458 946109 VARIANT: “The 1981 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar – The Lord of the Rings - To Honor the Silver Anniversary” Illustrations by Paul Rivoche loosely based on images from the Ralph Bakshi film. Dimensions: 13 x 11.75 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; glossy white, medium-weight paperboard sleeve; shrinkwrapped (Technically, it's not a flexible, plastic shrinkwrap. The wrap is cellophane-like and rather brittle. It is therefore difficult to find one still in the wrap because of its age and the fact that the cellophane splits because of its brittleness). Rarity: 8 Shrinkwrapped: 10 May appear on ebay only once or twice a year; usually in the original sleeve. One must confirm the ISBN to distinguish it from the Tolkien Enterprises issue (see entry below). (x,m) |
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1981 Steve Pillinger "Shire Calendar 1981" Steve Pillinger, UK. Three versions exist: A3 size, color; A3 size, black and white; A4 size, black and white. Rarity: 9 May appear on ebay only once a year. |
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1981 Tolkien Enterprises ISBN: 0-9690890-15 “The 1981 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar – The Lord of the Rings - To Honor the Silver Anniversary.” Illustrations by Paul Rivoche loosely based on images from the Ralph Bakshi film. Dimensions: 13 x 11.75 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; glossy white, medium-weight paperboard sleeve; shrinkwrapped (cellophane-like; same comments as for the Methuen issue above). Rarity: 6 Shrinkwrapped: 10 May appear on ebay once/month; usually in the original sleeve. (x,m) |
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1982 Ballantine Books (Random House) ISBN: 0-345-29374-6 "The 1982 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar" Illustrations by Darrell K. Sweet. Dimensions: 13 x 12.25 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; shrinkwrapped. Rarity: 4 Shrinkwrapped: 8 Common on eBay. (x,m) |
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1982 Steve Pillinger "Shire Calendar 1982" O.S. Pillinger, UK. Two versions: A4 size, A3 (297 x 420 mm) size (shown here); both in black and white. Rarity: 10 Unknown how many were made; the few that I know of are in the hands of collectors or Marquette University. |
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1983 Antioch Publishing Company ISBN: 0-89954-107-0 "1983 Fantasy Calendar" The ONLY Tolkien-related calendar issued in 1983. Even then, only a single illustration pertains (July: "Gandalf's Visit" by Sylvia Thomas.) Color illustrations. Dimensions: 5.75 x 5.75 inches (w x h); stapled; mailer. Rarity: 10 Has appeared on eBay once in the last three years. (x) |
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1984 Ballantine Books (Random House) ISBN: 0-345-31086-1 "The 1984 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar" Illustrations by Roger Garland. Dimensions: 11.5 x 12 inches (w x h); stapled; punched hanging hole; shrinkwrapped. Rarity: 4 Shrinkwrapped: 8 Common on eBay. (m) |
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1984 Friends of the Earth (New Zealand) Ltd. "Unspoiled Earth 1984" Photos by Barney Brewster. New Zealand locales reminiscent of Tolkien scenes with Tolkien titles. Rarity: 10 Unknown number produced. Has not appeared on eBay. I know of two copies of it. |
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1984 Methuen (Agincourt, ON, Canada) ISBN: 0-458-96200-7 VARIANT: "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1984" Cover: “Ulmo, Lord of the Waters.” Illustrations by Roger Garland. Printed by McLaren Morris & Todd Ltd., Toronto. Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 16 1/2 inches (w x h); wire bound; heavy wire hanging loop; light-weight, white paper envelope. Rarity: 9 Have seen only two on eBay (one with, one without its envelope). (x) |
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1984 Norge Tolkien Forening
"Arthedainkalenderen.1 1984" Single page insert into the the November 1983 issue of "Angerthas 9", fanzine of Arthedain, Norge Tolkien Forening. Gregorian, Shire, and Imladris reckonings. For those not fluent in Norwegian, read Varnafindë's translation of it. Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches (w x h). Rarity: 10 Have seen it appear only once on eBay. (x) |
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1984 Unwin Paperbacks (London) ISBN: 0-045-29007-5 "The J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar 1984" Cover: “Ulmo, Lord of the Waters.” Illustrations by Roger Garland. Dimensions: 12 x 16.5 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: 9 Appears once or twice a year on eBay. (x) |
