One of the most famous and highly collectible of the early genre series is the renowned adult fantasy series published by Ballantine Books between 1969 and 1974. The series grew out of the popularity of Ballantine’s paperback editions of JRR Tolkien’s now-famous quartet, as well as a number of other first-time paperback fantasy classics. Building on the success of the first book series and seeing a growing desire for fantasy literature, Ian and Betty Ballantine recruited author/publisher Lin Carter to produce a series of paperback fantasy books. Carter produced a seminal fantasy series that included many works that had been out of print and unavailable for some time.

The series is identified by a distinctive “Unicorn Head” colophon in the upper right corner and/or the phrase “A Ballantine Adult Fantasy” in the upper left corner of the cover. The colophon was redrawn in December 1969 and appears first in that month’s publication, Hannes Bok’s The Sorcerer’s Ship. Each post also featured an introduction by Carter.

Most collectors of the BAF series include the sixteen books published by Ballantine before the start of the series, beginning with Tolkien’s. The Hobbit, as precursors to the official series. Also typically included are two non-fiction books by Lin Carter himself on the works of JRR Tolkien and HP Lovecraft.

In addition, two other books are commonly considered part of the BAF series, although they were published after the series colophon was dropped. The first, published in June 1974, is by H. Warner Munn. merlin ring which includes the introduction by Carter and the second, by Evangeline Walton Prince of Annwn, which lacks Carter’s logo and introduction, but completes the Mabinogi cycle begun by Walton’s three books published under the Unicorn Head colophon.

Because it’s a paperback series, has a well-defined checklist, a finite number of books, and the generally cheap cost of most BAF titles, collecting the series is easy and satisfying. Copies of many of the books appear frequently at garage sales and used bookstores. Dealers at conventions usually have several titles available, and much of the series is available online. It is an excellent series for the beginning collector.

All of the books in the series proper had a distinctive Unicorn’s Head colophon on the cover, and included an introduction by Carter.

Forerunners of the series (August 1965 – April 1969)

Ballantine’s initial line of fantasies, published prior to hiring Carter as editor and considered the inspiration for the series.

1. The HobbitJRR Tolkien (August 1965)
2. The Fellowship of the RingJRR Tolkien (October 1965)
3. The two TowersJRR Tolkien (October 1965)
4. The return of the KingJRR Tolkien (December 1965)
5. The Tolkien ReaderJRR Tolkien (September 1966)
6. The Ouroboros WormER Eddison (April 1967 – later reprinted with colophon)
7. lover of loversE. R. Eddison (August 1967)
8. A fish dinner at MeisonE.R. Eddison (February 1968)
9. The road continuesJRR Tolkien and Donald Swann (October 1968)
10. groan titoMervyn Peake (October 1968 – later reprinted with colophon)
11. GormenghastMervyn Peake (October 1968 – later reprinted with colophon)
12. tito aloneMervyn Peake (October 1968 – later reprinted with colophon)
13. A Journey to ArcturusDavid Lindsay (November 1968 – later reprinted with colophon)
14. The last unicornPeter S. Beagle (February 1969 – later reprinted with colophon)
15. Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of HamJRR Tolkien (March 1969)
16. The Mezentian GateE.R. Eddison (April 1969)

The BAF series proper (May 1969 – April 1974)

Based on a list by Lin Carter in imaginary worlds (June 1973), with the inclusion of additional volumes published up to the end of the series in 1974.

1. the blue starFletcher Pratt (May 1969)
2. The daughter of the King of ElflandLord Dunsany (June 1969)
3. Wood beyond the worldWilliam Morris (July 1969)
4. the silver stallionJames Branch Cabell (August 1969)
5. lilithGeorge Macdonald (September 1969)
6. Dragons, elves and heroes, Lin Carter, ed. (October 1969)
7. the young wizards, Lin Carter, ed. (October 1969)
8. earth figuresJames Branch Cabell (November 1969)
9. The Sorcerer’s ShipHannes Bok (December 1969)
10. Land of unreasonFletcher Pratt and L. Sprague de Camp (January 1970)
11. the high placeJames Branch Cabell (February 1970)
12. lud-in-the-mistHope Mirrlees (March 1970)
13. at the edge of the worldLord Dunsany (March 1970)
14. ghostsGeorge Macdonald (April 1970)
15. The dream quest of the unknown KadathH. P. Lovecraft (May 1970)
16. zothiqueClark Ashton Smith (June 1970)
17. Shagpat’s shaveGeorge Meredith (July 1970)
18. The island of the mightyEvangeline Walton (July 1970)
19. the deryni uprisingKatherine Kurtz (August 1970)
20. The Well at the End of the World, Vol. 1William Morris (August 1970)
21. The Well at the End of the World, Vol. 2William Morris (September 1970)
22. Golden citiesFar, Lin Carter, ed. (October 1970)
23. Beyond the golden stairHannes Bok (November 1970)
24. the broken swordPoul Anderson (January 1971)
25. The ships of the ‘Glen Carrig’, William Hope Hodgson (February 1971)
26. The damnation that came to SarnathH. P. Lovecraft (February 1971)
27. something about eveJames Branch Cabell (March 1971)
28. Red Moon and Black MountainJoy Chant (March 1971)
29. hyperboreaClark Ashton Smith (April 1971)
30. Don Rodríguez: Chronicles of the Valley of ShadowsLord Dunsany (May 1971)
31. vathekWilliam Beckford (June 1971)
32. The Man Who Was ThursdayGK Chesterton (July 1971)
33. the sons of llyrEvangeline Walton (August 1971)
34. the cream of the jokeJames Branch Cabell (September 1971)
35. New worlds for old, Lin Carter, ed. (September 1971)
36. The Spawn of Cthulhu, Lin Carter, ed. (October 1971)
37. double phoenixEdmund Cooper and Roger Lancelyn Green (November 1971)
38. The water of the wonderful islandsWilliam Morris (November 1971)
39. jaledF. Marion Crawford (December 1971)
40. The wish of the worldH. Rider Haggard and Andrew Lang (January 1972)
41. xiccarfoClark Ashton Smith (February 1972)
42. the lost continentC.J. Cutcliffe-Hyne (February 1972)
43. discoveries in fantasy, Lin Carter, ed. (March 1972)
44. dommeiJames Branch Cabell (March 1972)
45. Kai Lung’s Golden HoursErnest Bramah (April 1972)
46. checkmate deryniKatherine Kurtz (May 1972)
47. Beyond the fields we knowLord Dunsany (May 1972)
48. the three impostorsArthur Machen (June 1972)
49. The Land of Night, Vol. 1William Hope Hodgson (July 1972)
50. The Land of Night, Vol. 2William Hope Hodgson (July 1972)
51. rhiannon’s songEvangeline Walton (August 1972)
52. Great short fantasy novels for adults #1, Lin Carter, ed. (September 1972)
53. evenorGeorge Macdonald (November 1972)
54. Orlando Furioso: Angelica’s Ring, Volume 1Ludovico Ariosto, translated by Richard Hodgens (January 1973)
55. The maid’s shadowLord Dunsany (February 1973)
56. Great short fantasy novels for adults #2, Lin Carter, ed. (March 1973)
57. the devastating floodWilliam Morris (May 1973)
58. imaginary worldsLin Carter (June 1973)
59. poseidonisClark Ashton Smith (July 1973)
60. excaliburSanders Anne Laubenthal (August 1973)
61. tall deryniKatherine Kurtz (September 1973)
62. The saga of Hrolf KrakiPoul Anderson (October 1973)
63. the people of the mistH. Rider Haggard (December 1973)
64. Kai Lung unrolls his matErnest Bramah (February 1974)
65. Over the hills and far awayLord Dunsany (April 1974)

Additional books associated with the series.

Released after the Unicorn’s Head colophon was withdrawn, they are usually bundled with the series. The former has an introduction by Carter and the latter lacks Carter’s introduction, but completes a set that began under his direction. None have the colophon of the series on the cover.

1. merlin ringH. Warner Munn (June 1974)
2. Prince of AnnwnEvangeline Walton (November 1974)

Companion books associated with the series.

1. Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the RingsLin Carter (March 1969)
2. Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu MythosLin Carter (February 1972)