The 1957 LonCon (Opens in a new window) was a first in a lot of ways. It was the first WorldCon (Opens in a new window) 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 (Opens in a new window) 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.

Keep on reading by becoming my member here on Steady (Opens in a new window).