Fingolfin’s Findings LXVII: LonCon 1957 - first Tolkien cosplay (?) and the ‘rocket’

The 1957 LonCon (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) was a first in a lot of ways. It was the first WorldCon (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) outside of the United States (the fifteenth in total), it was the first of its kind in the UK - obviously -, and there is a chance that the first ever Tolkien-inspired cosplay was shown there.

A nazgûl.

And it was the last time that the International Fantasy Award (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) was handed out - to J.R.R. Tolkien.

The committee had decided that the trophy should be a handsome desk ornament in the symbolic shape of a spaceship (pre-Trek style, and not always appropriate!).... Unfortunately there was no photographer present on this occasion but I relish the memory of the bemused expression on the distinguished man’s face when receiving the spaceship.

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