The Lord of the Rings, 1st US Edition, Early Printngs with Dustjackets, Variant Cloth, and Custom Leather Slipcase.
Boston: Allen & Unwin, 1957.
J.R.R. Tolkien. First Edition. Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Near Fine / Very Good Plus. Item #2802
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, published by Houghton Mifflin , 1957/1957/1956 1st Editions, 7th imp./5th imp./1st impression. An exceptionally brilliant and scarce set of first editions of this classic of fantasy literature. The set is all original cloth with the correct original dustjackets. The dustjackets are all in Very Good Plus/Near Fine condition, with none being price clipped. The Fellowship has a small chip and closed tear with loss to the top of the spine fold area. The color is bright and exceptional, without fading or tanning. The other two dustjackets are also colorful and very bright, with minor rubbing to the fold areas, minor color loss, and only the smallest of chips, showing the slightest tanning to The Two Towers spine. This set is very scarce, with the variant Slate Blue/Grey Binding on the Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers, the only books and/or impressions that have this variant binding from the publisher. The three books do not have any previous owners names nor any other writing noted. The Two Towers shows a split down the gutter, now neatly repaired. The Return of the King, is a 1st impression, and the dustjacket exhibits the 1st state points with the oversized $5.00 price and double strokes to the dollar sign. The dustjacket is in remarkable clean condition, with a little light soiling to the white areas on the back panel. Original maps are present in all three volumes, with a minor repair to a tear at the mounting fold of The Fellowship, showing an extra fold along the upper mounting edge, now straightened. The Mordor Map in the Return of the King shows a little wrinkling from a damp stain along the mounting edge. The set is housed in a custom Red Leather Slipcase, featuring Tolkien's Ring & Eye device and the White Tree of Gondor to the side panels, along with Tolkien's JRRT monogram to the rear panel, all stamped in gold with a ribbon pull to easily access the 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.
Price: $4,500.00 save 5% $4,275.00