The Song of Roland Value Guide

This 1960s Penguin Classics edition of The Song of Roland is a sought-after collectible for its iconic cover design and the celebrated translation by Dorothy L. Sayers. As the oldest surviving major work of French literature, this specific UK-printed paperback represents a pivotal moment in making medieval epic poetry accessible to the mid-century English-speaking public.

What Is The Song of Roland Worth?

The typical price range for The Song of Roland is $10 - $20 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Physical condition of the paper spine, as these 1960s editions are prone to cracking and adhesive failure.
• Presence of the original price marking in shillings or early decimal currency on the front or back cover.
• The degree of page yellowing or 'foxing' common in mid-century mass-market paper materials.
• The specific printing number, with earlier 1960s impressions generally commanding the higher end of the $10-$20 range.

How to Identify The Song of Roland?

• Verify the 'Penguin Classics' branding and the distinctive vertical grid or color-coded cover design typical of 1960s UK editions.
• Check for the Dorothy L. Sayers translation credit on the title page, first introduced in 1957.
• Confirm the publisher's address is listed as Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England to ensure United Kingdom origin.
• Look for the orange or black spine associated with early Penguin literary translations.

History of The Song of Roland

The Song of Roland is an epic poem, considered the oldest surviving major work of French literature. It recounts the Battle of Roncevaux in 778 during the reign of Charlemagne. This Penguin Classics edition, translated by Dorothy L. Sayers, first appeared in 1957, making the classic accessible to a wide English-speaking audience.