Digital Tolkien Project
@digitaltolkien.com
A scholarly project focused on Tolkien from a corpus linguistic and digital humanities perspective. Posts by James Tauber (@jtauber.com)
https://digitaltolkien.com/
https://digitaltolkien.com/
Oh, we've solved that one.
January 11, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Oh, we've solved that one.
Looking at "The Silmarillion" it's even more obviously a match. The slanted bar on the e, the terminal on the and r, the serifs on the feet of m, n, the slant in various places. It's a match.
January 11, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Looking at "The Silmarillion" it's even more obviously a match. The slanted bar on the e, the terminal on the and r, the serifs on the feet of m, n, the slant in various places. It's a match.
Yeah, it's just slightly compressed on the book
January 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Yeah, it's just slightly compressed on the book
Here's ITC Clearface Pro Heavy
January 10, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Here's ITC Clearface Pro Heavy
Of course if he just based it off the Tolkien covers, we're back to square one :-)
January 10, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Of course if he just based it off the Tolkien covers, we're back to square one :-)
Okay, given he was BORN in 1993, it's clearly not the actual font used :-)
January 10, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Okay, given he was BORN in 1993, it's clearly not the actual font used :-)
Yeah, still a brilliant find! How did you do it?
(I guess it's even possible Maythorn was based *ON THE TOLKIEN COVER TYPE DESIGN*)
(I guess it's even possible Maythorn was based *ON THE TOLKIEN COVER TYPE DESIGN*)
January 10, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Yeah, still a brilliant find! How did you do it?
(I guess it's even possible Maythorn was based *ON THE TOLKIEN COVER TYPE DESIGN*)
(I guess it's even possible Maythorn was based *ON THE TOLKIEN COVER TYPE DESIGN*)
The font files might be from 2010 with an older design. Fonts based on 16th century type might "say" they're from the 1980s, for example :-)
Or Maythorn might have copied an older design.
Or Maythorn might have copied an older design.
January 10, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The font files might be from 2010 with an older design. Fonts based on 16th century type might "say" they're from the 1980s, for example :-)
Or Maythorn might have copied an older design.
Or Maythorn might have copied an older design.
This seems like an exact match for the hardbacks of the time.
January 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM
This seems like an exact match for the hardbacks of the time.
Actually, I'm almost positive Maythorn is what was used on the hardbacks!
January 10, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Actually, I'm almost positive Maythorn is what was used on the hardbacks!
Maythorn actually looks *very* close to the Hardbacks of the same era (Silmarillion, LOTR)
January 10, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Maythorn actually looks *very* close to the Hardbacks of the same era (Silmarillion, LOTR)
For comparison, this is Bitstream's Century Schoolbook Std Bold Condensed
January 10, 2026 at 4:50 PM
For comparison, this is Bitstream's Century Schoolbook Std Bold Condensed
219/ Aragorn adds “and I was glad to be rid of his company, for he stank.” and “For my part I hope never to look upon him again”
January 9, 2026 at 12:05 AM
219/ Aragorn adds “and I was glad to be rid of his company, for he stank.” and “For my part I hope never to look upon him again”
218/ Aragorn adds “for we had agreed that this should be done”. In other words, the plan was that if Gollum were found, he should be taken to the Elves of Mirkwood.
January 8, 2026 at 11:38 PM
218/ Aragorn adds “for we had agreed that this should be done”. In other words, the plan was that if Gollum were found, he should be taken to the Elves of Mirkwood.
217/ Aragorn and Gollum finally make it to Mirkwood where Aragorn says he gave Gollum to the Elves.
January 8, 2026 at 10:55 PM
217/ Aragorn and Gollum finally make it to Mirkwood where Aragorn says he gave Gollum to the Elves.
216/ And so the being “not gentle” included gagging him, not feeding him or letting him drink, and making him walk with a halter.
January 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
216/ And so the being “not gentle” included gagging him, not feeding him or letting him drink, and making him walk with a halter.