I have a first American edition of The Silmarillon still in good shape. It’s a great book.
I love the Ring Trilogy and find the Silmarillion fascinating.
I would not have gotten this far if I hadn't read the others first. It would be awful. But if you read the Lord of The Rings trilogy first, the Silmarillion tales simply blossom as you read and the other books take on so much more depth.
no need....I enjoyed the Hobbit and the Rings...but I am done now.