Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Alan Lee. 1st Edition, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings, Hardcover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien, published April 2007 by Houghton Mifflin. Signed by the editor and illustrator, Christopher Tolkien and Alan Lee, to a special bookplate, featuring Lee's motif of the Helm of Hador, attached to the Half Title page. "The Children of Hurin, The first standalone tale of Middle-earth since 1977, and the first complete version of one of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Great Tales', with many exclusive features:" "Drawing together J.R.R. Tolkiens original manuscripts, using many sources spaced out over decades, Christopher Tolkien has constructed a narrative without any editorial invention." "Includes a brand new red and black Map of Beleriand specially drawn by Christopher Tolkien, which appears as a fold-out sheet." "Contains eight colour paintings and twenty-five pencil sketches, specially commissioned from award-winning artist, Alan Lee." "Includes a specially written introduction and appendix on the history and writing of the tale by Christopher Tolkien." This edition has already sold out and only later editions are now available. With Houghton Mifflin wishing to reach out and do something special for the loyal Tolkien fans, along with Christopher Tolkien's reluctance to grant public appearances, they conceived the idea for a signed bookplate, which Christopher Tolkien and Alan Lee both agreed to. It seems approximately 900 bookplates were signed, 450 for the release party at the New York City Barnes and Noble, and 200 for the UK Waterstones release party, with the remainder held for other promotions. A very hard to find edition, with the signed bookplate. Don't expect to see many of these for sale, as most will end up in private collections. Custom black bonded leather slipcase, stamped with Hador's Helm to one side and the JRRT Monogram to the other. Additional 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 #2514

London: Scholastic Press, 2005. First Thus. Hard Cover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A set of the trade hardcover 10th Anniversary 1st Editions of His Dark Materials, comprised of Northern Lights (renamed the Golden Compass for the soon to be released movie), The Subtle Knife, and the Amber Spyglass, with each of the 3 volumes signed to the Title Page. Each volume is a Fine hard back in Fine dust wrappers, All 3 books are SIGNED by the author on the three title pages. This is not the limited edition. These books were printed to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary 1995 --- 2005. As the books were printed in 2005 these edition are first printings of the Anniversary Edition and hence contain the numbers 1 to 10 on the publication page. Plus a signed copy of Lyra's Oxford with the accompanying, rarer trial 'dustwrapper'. All books and dustjackets are unread and As New. Also includes a special bonus of a signed copy of 'Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things', in wraps as issued. This is one of only 500 copies that were printed. It contains Pullman's full text to his closing address, delivered at the 2002 NATE Conference. Especially elusive in this signed state. You will received a total of 5 signed books by Philip Pullman, as well as the trial dustwrapper for Lyra's Oxford. A wonderful selection of signed copies for the discriminating collector. With the movie, the Golden Compass soon to be released, these will not last long. Digital images available on request. Any questions, please feel free to inquire. Item #403

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1963. J.R.R. Tolkien. No Binding. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien. A beautiful copy of an early printing of The Hobbit. The 1963 14th overall printing, or the 10th printing of the 2nd Edition (1951). With the book printing history blank on the title page verso, I verified this is the 14th impression using Tolkien Collector #30 with Steven M. Frisby's article on Identifying Second Edition Printings of the Houghton Mifflin Hobbit. A Very Good Plus book in a Very Good Plus original dustjacket designed by Tolkien, as found on the original UK Editions. Stated 14th impression on front flap, not priced or clipped, noted as printed in Great Britain, this dustjacket shows a little rubbing to the spine folds and to the flap folds, with minor chips and color loss. The book is clean and bright with the bright green colored original cloth from the publisher. A previous owners name and inscription to the front edge of the front pastedown (map) no other names or any other writing noted. Shows no shelf wear, soiling, or bumped corners. Features the title, dwarves hat, author and publisher stamped on the spine in blue. Front boards have "The Hobbit" stamped in blue as well. Contains the full color frontispiece "The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water", as well as the original line drawings by Tolkien. The maps are in excellent condition, red and black ink still show clear and bright against the unfoxed endpapers. The jacket shows some soiling in the white sections, and the spine is lightly tanned. A beautiful copy, scarce in original dustjacket in this Very Good Plus condition. A custom green leather slipcase to house this lovely edition is provided, featuring the Dragon design as found on the UK cover. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, Item #2526

London: Allen & Unwin, 1961. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1st Edition, Hobbits, Lord of the Rings. Hardcover. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, Comprised of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by George Allen and Unwin in 1961, these books are middle impressions of the 1st UK Edition, originally published in 1954/1954/1955 respectively. The Fellowship of the Rings is an 10th impression published in 1961, in its correct unclipped 10th impression dustjacket. The Two Towers is an 8th impression published in 1961, in its original price clipped dustjacket. The Return of the King is a 7th impression published in 1961, also in its original price clipped dustjacket. All three books have their original dustjackets which are in Very Good Plus/Near Fine condition showing some light soiling with a few minor chips to the edges, and only very lightly tanned to the spine. The books are in Very Good Plus condition without any offsetting to the endpapers. The red cloth boards show very well, no dampstains or soiling to note. No previous owners name or writing in any of the books, but The Fellowship has a previous owners bookplate on the front pastedown, mostly hidden by the dustjacket flap. Each book has it's own original foldout map tipped in at the rear, and all are in excellent condition with no tears or extra folds noted. A custom red leather slipcase, featuring Tolkien's Ring & Eye design along with Tengwar title & author, with the Tolkien monogram to the rear, to house and protect this wonderful set of 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. Very Good Plus / Very Good Plus. Item #2325

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

London: Allen & Unwin, 1954. J.R.R. Tolkien. First Edition. Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by George Allen & Unwin, 1954/54/55 1st UK Edition set with each book in its original dustjacket. The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2nd impression, dated December 1954, less than 6 months after the 1st impression was released. The 2nd impression is significant for the errors introduced when the printers hurriedly reset the type to fill the 2nd order, without the publishers knowledge. Having broken down the original typeset, they reset the type, without offering proofs or even acknowledging it had been reset. Introducing numerous errors to the text, as well as incorporating a few of Tolkien's corrections. Many of the errors have remained in print to this day. The Two Towers is a stated 2nd impression in a 3rd impression dustjacket. This is the correct dustjacket for this book, as it lacks the 1955 date below the publisher on the Title page indicating it is actually the 3rd impression, with the printer omitting the 3rd impression date in the print history on the verso of the title page. The Return of the King is a 1st impression published October 20th, 1955. This copy is the 1st State, as per Hammond & Anderson corrected opinion, lacking the signature mark '4' and not 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 book the first state. The dustjacket for the Return is not the 1st State, having the blurbs on the rear flap. All original maps are present and in Near Fine condition. The Fellowship of the Ring map is the 1st State with a red dot off the coast of Umbar. An extraordinary set of first editions of this classic of fantasy literature. All show considerable tanning and darkening to the dustjackets, while the books remain clean and bright, without foxing and only a slight amount of offsetting from the dustjackets flaps. A previous owners sticker under the front flap of The Fellowship, no other names or writing in any of the books. The original boards are all clean and bright, with shiny gilt on the spines of the last two books with The Fellowship tarnished. The red topstain is quite faded on the Fellowship, while still clear on the Return, dusty on The Two Towers. The dustjackets are uniformly darkened and soiled, with some fading to the red lettering on the spines. The Fellowship is the only one price clipped, also the only one with tape ghosts to the back side where a previous owner reinforced some edges and folds. One small chip to upper rear fold on the Fellowship dustjacket, rubbing and minor loss to the spine and flap folds noted. The Two Towers dustjacket shows some rubbing and minor loss to the flap folds, no other loss noted. The Return dustjacket has slightly more loss to the top and bottom of the spine folds, as well as rubbing and minor loss to the flap fold areas. An early matched set of First Editions of this classic of fantasy literature, with a custom red leather covered slipcase, to protect and house these 'precious' books. Any questions, please feel free to inquire. 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 #2439