Most commentators have assumed that the revaluation theme belongs exclusively to the late Nietzsche (from Thus Spoke Zarathustra and onward); often its origin is dated to 1886 or 1884. After examining Nietzsche's notes, I argue that its origin occurred in 1880-81. I discuss its rather complex context at this time, with no single obvious thematic textual context outweighing all the others, and consider some of the consequences of this early dating. I furthermore examine the end of the literary revaluation project, concluding that Nietzsche regarded it as an unfinished four-volume project at least until shortly before his mental collapse.