New York: Ballantine Books, 1973. J.R.R. Tolkien. 2nd Edition. Mass Market Paperback. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. A four volume paperback set housed in the Publishers original Red pictorial slipcase, featuring the Heraldic symbols that were drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien. These illustrations include the ones designed to represent Feanor, Idril Celebrindal, Earendil, Luthien Tinuviel, Fingolfin, Elwe, Luthien Tinuviel and Finwe. This is one of the few published sets that includes all four books, The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. This is also the first set to feature the illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien, as the covers of the book and slipcase, rather then the Barbara Remington designs as found on previous issues. These paperback books are in Near Fine condition, with no tanning to the spines or the interior pages. All four books appear unread, showing no creases to the spines. No names or markings, the textblocks are very clean and bright, unlike most sets from this era. The slipcase has no rubs, in extraordinary condition, without loss of color to the edges. A beautiful Near Fine set in wonderful condition. The Hobbit is a 42nd printing from September 1973, The Fellowship is a 44th printing, The Two Towers is a 41st printing, and the Return of the King is a 40th printing all from September 1973. Hammond and Anderson's, A Descriptive Bibliography notes that "after the 40th (March 1973) and no later than the forty-second (September 1973)", the Hobbit was sold in sets with the Lord of the Rings, housed "in a slipcase, gold or red, printed paper over boards, featuring Heraldic devices by Tolkien." This design was used until 1983, when the covers were changed again. So this set is one of the earliest available from that period. Very unusual to find a set that has not been damaged after almost 50 years. A great find for the collector. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2331

London: Allen & Unwin, 1962. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Edition. Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, published by George Allen & Unwin in 1962. 1st Editions, the 12th imp/9th imp/9th imp. A scarce set of first editions of this classic of fantasy literature. The set is housed in the original publishers slipcase, showing considerable wear and rubbing to the edges, some soiling, label still relatively bright and mildly stained. The set is in Very Good Plus condition, with no writing or signatures in the books, other than a young childs story of purchasing and starting to read these books, spread across the rear free endpaper of all three books. There is no foxing or offsetting in any of the books. The red topstain is faded on book number 1 & 3. The exterior cloth is clean, with the gilt untarnished and bright. The books are clean and tight, and the maps are attached, and show no extra folds or tears. The dustjackets are complete and the correct impression for the books. The dj's are Very Good with minor chips to the top of the spine folds on the Fellowship, with no chips or rubbing to the other two. The dustjackets show dark tanning to the spines, with the front panel of the Return darkened from being in contact with the slipcase for decades. The edges of the slipcase show considerable wear and rubbing, but have protected the books for almost 60 years. Becoming very difficult to find complete original sets these days. High resolution digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2271

London: Readers Union, 1960. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Thus. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. A beautiful set of this unusual presentation of Tolkien's trilogy. Not for sale to the general public, limited to members of the Readers Union only. Published by the Readers Union in 1960 with the permission of George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London. The books are in Near Fine condition, with a neat previous owners name to the verson of the front free endpaper, no other names or writing, and with a slight amount of offsetting to the endpapers. Housed in the original dustjackets, all are Very Good Plus condition, having a bit of loss to the top and bottom of the spine ends, and the corners of the fold areas. None of the dustjackets are price clipped, and they show a bit of light tanning to the spines. These unusual dustjackets are in Very Good Plus condition, and show beautifully. All maps are tipped in at the rear, and in excellent condition, with a touch of browning to the center fold area on the Fellowship. This set features a line drawing by an unnamed artist for The Readers Union, of 'Sauron's Eye'. The only set to have this particular and very unusual dustjacket. Scarce in this lovely condition. Includes a custom foil stamped leather slipcase for display and protection of these beautiful books. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2332

London: Allen & Unwin, 1954. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1st Edition, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by George Allen & Unwin, in 1954, 1954, and 1955, the 1st UK Edition, 1st impressions. The Fellowship of the Ring is a 1st impression published July 29th, 1954, one of 1500 printed for the UK. The Two Towers is a 1st impression published November 11th, 1954, one of 2250 printed for the UK. The Return of the King is a 1st impression published October 20th, 1955. This copy is the 1st State, as per Hammond & Anderson, with the signature mark '4' and having the slipped type on page 49. Correspondence with Wayne Hammond has indicated he has revised his original definition of the 1st state, from what was described in the Tolkien Bibliography, making this the later state. All original maps are present and in Near Fine condition, no tears or extra folds. All three books are in their original dustjackets showing some soiling and a little fading to the red lettering on the books. Previous owners names (different) to all three books, along with a couple of bookstore stickers. No other markings or writing in any of the books. The front endpapers show a moderate amount of offsetting on the books, less so to the Two Towers and Return of the King. No foxing noted in any of the books. The dustjackets are not price clipped, and they have some loss to the tops and bottoms of the spine on the Fellowship and The Two Towers. A bit of rubbing and splits or loss to a few area's, mostly around the folds. The previous owner had reinforced the folds of all three dustjackets with (what appears to be) archival tape, along with a couple of small closed tears as well. These are a unsophisticated set of books, there was no restoration work performed on any of the three books. The text blocks are all clean, bright and tight, without any internal foxing. Red topstain is still bright and clean on all three books, not faded as often found. A beautiful, collectable set of first editions of this classic of fantasy literature. The gilt is bright and untarnished on the spines. The boards are very clean and bright, with a couple of minor liquid spots to the boards, virtually no shelf wear on the bottom edge. The maps in the first two books are the 1st state maps with the point of the red dot off the coast of Umbar. A highly sought after set of First Impressions of this classic of fantasy literature, with a custom red leather slipcase to protect and house these 'precious' books. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2231

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1963. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1st Edition, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published in 1963 by Houghton Mifflin Co. A beautiful later impression set of the classic Lord of the Rings. Housed in a custom red leather slipcase, the colors of the dustjackets are bright and look spectacular. The Dustjackets are Very Good Plus on the set, showing minor edgewear and a few closed tears or chips missing, small areas of color loss, mostly to the flap fold and tips of the spines. All three of the dustjackets are price clipped. The bright blue cloth is clean and bright, gilt still shines brightly on all 3 books. No soiling or edgewear to note, except the Fellowship has some stains to the endpapers, which extends to the top edges of the textblock. Same neat previous owners inscription, in pencil, to all three books, mostly hidden by the front flap of the dustjacket. The original maps are present in all three volumes, no extra folds or tears noted. Further digital images can be supplied on request. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2284

London: Allen & Unwin, 1979. J.R.R. Tolkien. Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, De Luxe Edition, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published in 1979 by George Allen & Unwin. This is the 7th impression of the 1 Volume De Luxe Edition of the Lord of the Rings. A Near Fine copy of the book with no previous owners name or any writing. The original onion skin wrapper is not present and has been replaced with a heavier and shorter sheet. The book basically has no faults, clean and bright, a few wrinkled pages, not uncommon with the very thin India paper. This edition is printed on India Paper, making the full 3 volumes bound into a single volume, only 1 inch thick. The black buckram cloth has the Tolkien design depicting the Numenorean throne with 'Elendil' in tengwar, stamped on upper cover in gilt, silver and green. Mottled black and grey wove endpapers, all edges trimmed and lightly speckled with green. Both maps are present and are in Near Fine condition, no tears or extra folds noted. The maps also fold down, I believe the last year before they mounted them to fold upwards. The box shows some minor scuffing to the edges and corners, no split corners. The label is very nice, only lightly soiled and a bit faded. A beautiful example of this wonderful edition. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Item #2226