Future Signature Edition Paperbacks (Speculation)

 

This post will examine (by way of speculation) some titles yet to be published in the Signature Paperback Collection by HarperCollins. 

HarperCollins is in the process of reissuing a vast number of Tolkien paperbacks into a new style, 'The Tolkien Signature Collection.' So far, roughly 90% of the various paperbacks have been released into this style. There's the odd title here and there yet to come to that format. It's up to HarperCollins to decide which titles will be arriving in this new, unifying paperback format. The ones that will be mentioned here are certainly candidates, either way of receiving new ISBNs, or by having future print runs use the new covers - if they've already been published in paperback format by HarperCollins, that is. 

Letters From Father Christmas 

I can picture how this could look in my head: it would feature the image above (which has adorned the front covers in shape or form of various editions over recent years) and the book's colour would be red. HarperCollins could use a new ISBN for it, or merely use the one of the previous paperback edition: 9780007280490. Perhaps the foil stamping would be silver rather than gold for this one instance.

This is also worthy of mention, due to the fact that there currently isn't a paperback edition of Letters From Father Christmas in print. Various editions of Letters From Father Christmas typically appear October - November, so hopefully Fall of 2025 will see it come out.  

Smith of Wootton Major (Extended Edition)

So far, 2/4 titles from The Tolkien Treasury boxed set (being The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Farmer Giles of Ham) have been 'lifted' from that set, and made into Tolkien Signature paperbacks. The contents, by the way, are the exact same as their Treasury edition counterparts. Logically - hopefully - HarperCollins will also release Smith of Wootton Major.

Another factor to take into consideration, is that Smith of Wootton Major has not yet been published by HarperCollins in paperback. The book's colour could be green, so it would match with Farmer Giles and Tom Bombadil. 

Roverandom 

The final Tolkien Treasury title to make it to the Signature Paperback style would be Roverandom. As stated with Smith of Wootton Major above, the book's colour could be green. HarperCollins could use a new ISBN for this edition, or reissue the title under a previous ISBN. To fit in with the other Tolkien Treasury titles, this could also be green.   

Mr. Bliss

In a way, it comes down to the paper HaperCollins would theoretically use for the Signature Father Christmas. If it's the same type as their most recent paperback, then producing a Signature Mr. Bliss shouldn't be too difficult nor unrealistic. Another key component would be if how a paperback is produced and bound would allow for the book to be re-orientated and flipped around. That is, of course, if it'll be presented the exact same way that the 2011 hardback would, with the facsimile presented at the rear and in landscape way. To sum it up, doing a paperback of this title may not be possible. 

The Fall of Numenor

This title was just published in the paperback format! At some point, expect future reprints to start being issued in the Signature style. Which printing that would happen with remains to be seen. 

The other similar books (The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien and The Fall of Gondolin) were issued with a red/maroon cover, so I'm kind of expecting The Fall of Numenor to be receive that colour, as well. The cover image would be the emblem designed by Alan Lee, which has appeared on the slipcased dexlue edition, and the large print edition. 

The History of The Hobbit (in 2 Parts)

(image is of the slipcased deluxe edition, to show the emblem)

HarperCollins has reissued The History of The Hobbit (the Revised and Expanded Edition) with new cover art, and also released it as a slipcased deluxe edition. However, what they could do, is to also publish it in the Signature style. 

There's two different ways I can see this happening:

1) They reissue the 2 paperbacks from 2008, but with a styling that would be of the Signature style. The imagery chosen could be from the slipcased edition, which is why I've chosen it as the photo above.

2) They could take the typesetting of the Revised and Expanded Edition - which has always been presented as 1 book - and divide it into two. 

The Nature of Middle-earth

(image is of the slipcased deluxe edition, to show the motif)

Much like The Fall of Numenor, I expect at some point, reprints of Nature will be released into the Signature style. The same goes for the following, so no further commentary for the next titles. 

The following are titles that I can see getting the Signature style treatment upon future reprints, and what the cover art would likely be; which is why I didn't go into detail with them the way that I did with others in this post. 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

(image is of the slipcased deluxe edition, to show the motif)

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

(image is of the slipcased deluxe edition, to show the motif)

The Fall of Arthur

(image is of the slipcased deluxe edition, to show the motif)

Beowulf

(image is by Tolkien, which has appeared as the cover art)

The Story of Kullervo 

(image is by Tolkien, which has appeared as the cover art)

The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun

(image is by Tolkien, which has appeared as the cover art)

The above are 

We'll see what HarperCollins gets up to over the next few months! Of all these, I'm hoping and realistically expecting Smith of of Wootton Major, Roverandom, Letters From Father Christmas, The Fall of Numenor and The Nature of Middle-earth to appear in this format someday.