the lord of the rings di tolkien (Oltre 5.900 risultati)

Hardcover. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Near Fine. First Edition. Allen and Unwin. 1954, 54, 55 Impressions 1,1,1 of each title. A lovely set. Near fine jackets with no tattering, chips or serious marks. Some minor blemishes and age discoloration. Spines are not too darkened, which is rare. What is unique about this set is the dust jackets are closer to the original grey colour, not faded beige/ whiite. This is extremely unique as you usually only see this colour on the flaps. The books are clean, no foxing, no marks, and gilt bright. FotR has fade mark's to inside end pages likely from an old jacket protector. RotK binding is slightly loose, but nothing serious. About as good as they come and will ever see as these sets are now very rare with original jackets. With fairly uniform wear, these books have been together a long time, but not likely to have been purchased by one original owner as released. There was never the opportunity to buy them as a set as they were released at intervals. With modern books you are paying for the condition of the dust jackets, not books! Finding dust jackets without restoration and reconstruction is also rare, thus the price of this set. We will deliver these anywhere in the world for travel costs. Watch our shop for more early and first editions in the coming months. We have been a specialist Tolkien dealer for 22 years and we expect more books to be listed under consignment from our old customers as we near the new films and other activity in the Tolkien market. We expect new higher prices across all editions and printings the next two years, buy now. Note, shipping costs do not included insurance. We usually hand deliver high value items which is cheaper than insurance. We will quote this price at cost. If you have any questions, please email us. Visit our website to learn more about Festival Art and Books, Festival in the Shire and our founder and expert, Mark D. Faith.

Condizione: Fine. First Edition. 1954, 1954, 1955. Three volumes. First edition, first printings, signed by J.R.R. Tolkien on the title page of The Two Towers. Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in red morocco, spines decorated and titled in gilt, with "Eye of Sauron" to front boards in gilt, dark green endpapers, and edges gilt. Housed in a red leather entry slipcase. Folding maps in red and black at rear of each volume. Fine. Pages lightly tanned. Tolkien's epic trilogy is considered one of the greatest fantasy works ever written and is among the best-selling books of all time. Its contribution to popular culture has been profound to say the least.

Hardcover. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Near Fine. 1st Edition. This is easily one of the greatest first edition, first impression sets of The Lord of the Rings that I have encountered in my career thus far. An incredibly rare find, it's a joy to have for sale. Each jacket has also retained the very soft off grey/green when first published. So many believe them to be white which they aren't interestingly! Many went white over the years. An investment grade set of Tolkien firsts. As each book in the series was published over a 15th month period, first edition sets of The Lord of the Rings have mostly being cobbled together over the past seventy years, long after publication, with collectors swapping in and out different books, usually as they look to build up the best condition possible for their set. There are pretty much no sets that can be said to have been together since day one. Originally there were no more than 3,000 sets in first impression available after the last book was published and we can expect 70 years later many have been lost to the sands of time, so the number now will be significantly lower. Collectible copies, as seen here, are seriously rare. Copies that are collectible that can be said with near certainly to have been together since day one are as rare as the one ring! Contact for further details (Abebooks has a text limit).

A remarkable signed set. Each volume signed by J.R.R. Tolkien in black ink: The Lord of the Rings volumes on their respective half titles, The Hobbit on its half title, for a total of four signatures by the famous British fantasy author. Additionally, a typed sheet is laid in, reading, "7th June, 1967. // With Professor Tolkien's compliments." The sheet is blind stamped with Tolkien's home address, "76, Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford." H. David Wilt, the former owner of the volumes, worked as a children's librarian, and these books were birthday gifts from coworkers. He states, " I was a rather brush young man, and I decided I would send them off to England and ask if I could get them autographed by Professor Tolkien. I looked up an address for him and sent them off, hoping for the best. And the best happened. He signed them and his secretary sent them back and they've been with me for 60 years." Laid in photocopied booklet from Henrico County Library about Tolkien included. Second American edition, 19th printing of The Hobbit, published in 1965. First American edition, 14th printing of The Fellowship of the Rings, published in 1964. First American edition, 11th printings of Two Towers and Return of the King, published in 1965. LOTR housed in the publisher's black slipcase with paper title label. Very Good+ condition overall: light foxing along edges, dulling to spine panels of jackets, and shelf wear. LOTR volumes' dust jackets are price-clipped (unlike The Hobbit), gift inscriptions from Wilt's colleagues on front free endpapers, a little biopredation. All maps present. Slipcase a little worn. A rare full set of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy signed by Tolkien four times, with an additional typed note from his desk.

Hardcover. Condizione: Very Good. Condizione sovraccoperta: Very Good. First Edition. Allen and Unwin. 1954, 54, 55 Impressions 1,1,1 of each title. Not as nice a condition overall as my fine 1,1,1 set, but the original dust jackets are above average which is now what you are paying for with rare first editions. Finding dust jackets without restoration and reconstruction is increasingly rare, thus the price of this set. Jackets have the normal discoloration to the spines, (sunny and mould) with the usual mix of use staining and marks, but very little paper loss overall except to spine ends. Two Towers and The Return of the King are above average books, but Fellowship has some old mould damage to the inside front cover and end pages. This has long been treated, but the severe mould stained the paper with black patches as per the photo. You could have the inside cover paper replaced with a good chance of matching the colour, however it would then appear too new. Given that 90% of the value is in the dust jacket, it's best to leave them as-is as far as future investment. We want to stress the unique feature and value here is the lack of restoration, where 70% of more first editions coming on the market have some amount of restoration these days. Purist collectors want the real thing, warts and all. Note, shipping costs do not included insurance. We usually hand deliver high value items which is cheaper than insurance. We will quote insurance or delivery at cost. If you have any questions, please email us. Visit our website to learn more about Festival Art and Books, Festival in the Shire and our founder and expert, Mark D. Faith.

A set of first edition, first printings of Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings', published by George Allen and Unwin between 1954-55. Comprising: [1] The Fellowship of the Ring - one of 3000 first state copies; [2] The Two Towers - one of 3250 first state copies; [3] The Return of the King - one of 7000 copies, with signature mark '4' present on page 49 and sagging text to 'Legolas'. Originally designated as first state by Hammond/Anderson, later corrected by Wayne Hammond (The Tolkien Collector, Issue 11). All volumes complete with folded maps of Middle Earth tipped in onto recto. Original dust wrappers which have not been price-clipped and with no restoration. No inscriptions whatsoever within each of the three volumes. The set has been collated individually. The condition of each volume follows: (1) The Fellowship of the Ring: A first edition, first printing published in 1954. A very good book with fading and wear to the spine - no inscriptions. Red topstain present and complete. Map to the rear is present and has tape burns to the top corner. Off-setting to the endpapers - light stain to the foot of the page block. In the very good (or better) dust wrapper which is unclipped showing 21s as called for. A small internal repair to a closed tear to the foot of the spine and one to the top edge. Some light wear to the spine tips and corners. (2) The Two Towers: A first edition, first printing published in 1954. A very good book with fading and some staining to the boards. No inscriptions - spotting and off-setting to the endpapers. Topstain present and complete. Wear to the board edges and corners. Map to the rear present and complete. In the very good (or better) dust wrapper which is complete with a couple of very light stains to the top of the spine - some rubbing to the corners. Not price clipped showing 21s as called for. (3) The Return of the King: A first edition, first printing published in 1955. A near fine book without inscriptions - some off-setting to the endpapers. A little rubbing to the edges and corners. Map is present to the rear of the book. In the very good (or better) dust wrapper which is unclipped showing 21st as called for. Two small internal repairs to closed tears to the bottom edge. Some rubbing to the spine and to the corners. A very good set of the first edition, first printings, now housed in a custom-made slipcase showing the Eye of Sauron.

Second editions of the author's classic trilogy, signed by Tolkien in each volume. Octavo, 3 volumes, original cloth, folding maps. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "Signed for Ethel May with love J. R. R. Tolkien." Volumes two and three are signed by J.R.R. Tolkien on the half-title page. The recipient, Ethel Burchfield was theÂwifeÂof Robert Burchfield, a lexicographer and scholar who was mentored by Tolkien. Burchfield studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was tutored by Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Burchfield would go on to develop a Tolkien-like fascination with linguistics and would become theÂeditorÂofÂtheÂSupplement toÂthe Oxford English Dictionary. TheÂtwo men remained friends and correspondents for muchÂofÂtheir lives with Burchfield later crediting Tolkien as "the puckish fisherman who drew me into his glittering philological net." Near fine in near fine dust jackets, with "E. M. Burchfield St. Peters. XII 1967." Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by The Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional set, most rare and desirable signed, with noted provenance. The Lord of the Rings began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's fantasy novel The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, much of it during World War II in letters to his son, "and finally, having polished it to his own satisfaction, published it as a trilogy from 1954 to 1955, a volume at a time, impatiently awaited by a growing audience. It is considered one of this century's lasting contributions to that borderland of literature between youth and age. It seems destined to become this century's contribution to that select list of books which continue through the ages to be read by children and adults with almost equal pleasure." (Eyre, 134-35). It has went on to become the third best selling novel of all-time with 150 million copies sold.

3 Cloth HARD COVERS. Condizione: Very Good. Condizione sovraccoperta: 2 Dust Jackets. SECOND EDITION. 2 with Dust jackets 1 without, Fellowship "Second Edition," "Twelth Printing," The Two Towers "Second Edition," "Eleventh Printing," "0267" printing of the 1965 edition, The Return of the King "Second Edition," "Eleventh Printing" we have another set in much better condition that just came in.

Hardcover. Condizione: Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Fine. 1st Edition. First Editions, First Impressions of ALL three books. A wonderful set. Each book is the TRUE FIRST EDITION with the ORIGINAL First Issue dustjacket. The dustjackets have the 21s net printed price is present on ALL three dustjackets. The dustjackets have some wear and discoloration. The books are ALL First Printings with the words "First Published in 1954" printed on the copyright page of "Fellowship of the Ring" "The Two Towers" and "First Published in 1955" on the copyright page of "The Return of the King" The books are bound in the original RED boards from the publisher. There is some wear to the spine and edges. The pages are clean in ALL three books with NO writing, marks or bookplates. A beautiful complete set of all three books housed in a custom clamshell box. We buy Tolkien First Editions.

Soft cover. Condizione: Fine. The Lord of the Rings Signed by J.R.R. Tolkien First Thus, 1968 UK One-Volume Edition A Rare and Highly Desirable Signed Edition This is a remarkable signed copy of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, published in 1968 by George Allen & Unwin as the first one-volume paperback edition. Featuring Pauline Baynes' distinctive cover artwork, originally designed for the 1963 deluxe slipcase, this edition became widely known as the version carried by students during the late 1960s. Tolkien's signature appears in black ink on the title page, making this an extraordinarily rare and sought-after collector's piece. The book remains in excellent condition for a paperback of this age. The cover is well-preserved, with only light handling wear and minor creasing to the spine, which remains intact. The pages are clean and bright, free from any previous owner inscriptions or markings. The fold-out map, often missing in later copies, is present and in excellent condition. Most notably, Tolkien's autograph is bold and clear, adding immense value to an already iconic edition. This signed edition represents a significant moment in publishing history, as it introduced The Lord of the Rings to a wider audience in a more accessible format. It remains one of the most recognizable and collectible versions of Tolkien's masterpiece. A rare opportunity to acquire an authentic signed copy of The Lord of the Rings, combining historical significance, visual appeal, and literary valuean essential addition to any serious Tolkien collection. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Very Good. 1st Edition. The Lord of the Rings First Edition, First Impression Set Original First Impression Dust Jackets A Highly Desirable and Rare Complete First Edition Set This is a true first edition, first impression set of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, published by George Allen & Unwin in 1954-1955. Uniquely, this set retains its original first impression dust jackets, making it highly collectible. All three books remain in their original red cloth bindings with gilt lettering on the spines, and each volume contains its correct fold-out map at the rear. The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) First edition, first impression. Dust jacket: First impression, correctly priced at 21s net. Condition: The red cloth boards remain in good condition, showing only minor handling marks and light shelf wear. The gilt lettering on the spine remains legible. The pages show typical age-related toning, particularly on the endpapers, with minor foxing. The fold-out map at the rear is intact and well-preserved. The dust jacket exhibits noticeable fading to the spine, consistent with exposure to light over time, and light wear along the edges. There is no price clipping. The Two Towers (1954) First edition, first impression. Dust jacket: First impression, price-clipped. Condition: The red cloth boards are in very good condition, with only minimal signs of shelf wear. The spine gilt remains clear. The pages are clean with some light age-toning, and the fold-out map is present and in excellent condition. The dust jacket retains its correct first impression identifiers but has been price-clipped. It shows fading to the spine, as well as some minor chipping and handling wear along the edges. The Return of the King (1955) First edition, first impression. Dust jacket: First impression, price-clipped. Condition: The boards are well-preserved with minimal wear, and the spine gilt is still legible. The pages are clean with minor age-related toning. The fold-out map remains intact and in excellent condition. The dust jacket is a true first impression and retains the correct Tolkien design. However, it is price-clipped and exhibits significant fading to the spine, as well as some edge wear and handling marks. A Highly Coveted Set for Collectors Complete first edition, first impression set, with all three books housed in their original first impression dust jackets. All volumes retain their original red cloth bindings with gilt lettering. Each book includes its original fold-out map, a key feature of first editions. The dust jackets, while complete, exhibit spine fading and signs of handling, with The Two Towers and The Return of the King being price-clipped. An exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a complete first edition, first impression set in original dust jacketsa true piece of literary history.

First editions, first states of each title comprising the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, original red cloth, folding map in the rear of each volume. Near fine in excellent dust jackets with light rubbing and wear. An exceptional set. The Lord of the Rings began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's fantasy novel The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, much of it during World War II in letters to his son, "and finally, having polished it to his own satisfaction, published it as a trilogy from 1954 to 1955, a volume at a time, impatiently awaited by a growing audience. It is considered one of this century's lasting contributions to that borderland of literature between youth and age. It seems destined to become this century's contribution to that select list of books which continue through the ages to be read by children and adults with almost equal pleasure." (Eyre, 134-35). It has went on to become the third best selling novel of all-time with 150 million copies sold.

custom folder. Condizione: Very Good. First edition. A REMARKABLY REVEALING LETTER: TOLKIEN DISCUSSES HIS SPECIFIC FEARS ABOUT THE TWO TOWERS AND DEFINES "THE FOUNDATION" OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND CONNECTS IT TO HIS LIFE'S WORK. The Fellowship of the Ring (the first volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) was published on July 29, 1954. There were a number of rave reviews (mostly notably from Tolkien's friend C.S. Lewis) but there were also enough harsh or critical assessments (particularly the reviews in the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times) to concern Tolkien and make him anxious about the reception of the second volume, The Two Towers. Professional reviews were one worry, but Tolkien always seemed even more eager to discover if his works connected with "regular" readers as well. One such reader whose opinion he held in high regards, was one of his early supporters, Miss F.L. Perry, whom he had corresponded with earlier about The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. The present letter was written on November 22, 1954 -only eleven days after the publication of The Two Towers - but the opening of the letter implies that Tolkien has already written her for her thoughts on his new book ("I did not mean to put you to any trouble") and has been eagerly awaiting her reply. Then, in a revealing passage that gives insight into Tolkien's thinking on potential failures of The Two Towers, he confesses that he worried about how his readers would accept the return of Gandalf (who was presumed dead at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring), and more generally, "would feel a falling off on a failure of their expectations," or "feel they had had enough after the novelty had worn off, and perhaps regret the decrease of hobbitry and elfishness as the darkness increases and war and terror come out of the East." With relief - and evidently pleased with Miss Perry's previous response - he writes that "All this is answered! Though by no means all are so satisfied by Gandalf." It's clear that Miss Perry was curious to learn more about Tolkien's writing and the history of Middle-earth, for Tolkien then goes on a wonderful digression first focusing on The Lord of the Rings before shifting to a discussion of his previously published work grounded in Anglo-Saxon history (noting, interestingly, that he is at his best when he is writing "verses arising from the emotions of a story, and written to represent the feelings of other 'characters' than myself"). He concludes with an important statement identifying the theme that unites all his work, both reality-based and fantasy-based. The historical work, he writes, "is really on the theme which has always engrossed me and is the foundation of 'The Lord of the Rings': the noble and the ignoble. For hobbitry you have the plain farmer-soldier; for the chivalry, a young minstrel or poet." He concludes his letter with the hope that Miss Perry will stay with him through volume III, "when all the complicated plot, and many characters, must be drawn together." The text reads in full: Nov. 22nd 1954 Dear Miss Perry It was very nice indeed of you to write; but I did not mean to put you to any trouble, specially not when unwell. Still, I was anxious about one or two points: specially about the return of Gandalf; and generally whether my friends would feel a falling off on a failure of their expectations; or feel they had had enough after the novelty had worn off, and perhaps regret the decrease of hobbitry and elfishness as the darkness increases and war and terror come out of the East. All this is answered! Though by no means all are so satisfied by Gandalf. However, all the reviews of the T.T. so far have been good, and Edwin Muir (Observer) is much less patronizing. As for the Chronicles: it has been impossible to include all that I have written or sketched out in this book. But there is really quite a lot of stray information about Arwen scattered about. It was the northern Númenórean realm of Isildur with its capitals at Annúminas and Fornost of which a good deal is said in the 'Council of Elrond.' The King of Angmar becomes the Lord of the Ringwraiths, who appears in Book 1, and will appear again. I have written a good deal of verse (of very varying merit), and some of it has been published here and there. But I have never collected it. I think I am best at the kind of thing seen in the present book - verses arising from the emotions of a story, and written to represent the feelings of other 'characters' than myself. The very long narrative poems, I do not suppose will be ever published. They may! Of longer things a 'Breton Lay,' Aotrou and Itroun was published in the 'Welsh Review' (now deceased); and on Dec. 3 you can hear (if you wish) a dramatic dialogue in alliterative verse concerning the 'Battle of Maldon (fought A.D. 991), broadcast by the B.B.C. It might interest you since it concerns one of the most heroic events in Anglo-Saxon history, and is the history of Essex; the death of the great Duke Byrhhnoth of Essex in battle with the Vikings of Anlaf (Olaf Tryggvason) of Norway. And also because it is really on the theme which has always engrossed me and is the foundation of 'The Lord of the Rings': the noble and the ignoble. For hobbitry you have the plain farmer-soldier; for the chivalry, a young minstrel or poet. I hope you will soon be better. And I hope, too, that you will continue to approve of Vol III, when all the complicated plot, and many characters, must be drawn together. Thank you once more for your kindness in writing, and for the great encouragement you have given. Yours sincerely, [signed] J.R.R. Tolkien Autograph Letter Signed. Four pages on two sheets (170 x 132 mm) of Tolkien's 76 Sandfield Road stationery. Custom presentation folder. Usual mailing folds, a few spots, particularly on last page; visually very attractive, showcasing Tolkien's famous calligraphic handwriting. As far as we can tell, this letter is unpublished. References: Carpenter, Humphrey. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography. Boston: Hou.

Hardcover. Second Revised Edition. All three volumes Very Good+ in a Very Good+ dust jacket. The Fellowship of the Ring 2nd impresssion, faint stain on FEP. Marring on both The Two Towers and The Return of the King front flaps. ; The Return of the King signed by J. R. R. Tolkien on title page. ; Signed by Author.

Hardcover. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Near Fine. 1st Edition. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - First Edition Set (1954-1955) with Dust Jackets and Original Maps. Rare first edition set of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, including The Fellowship of the Ring (4th Impression, 1955), The Two Towers (1st Impression, 1954), and The Return of the King (1st Impression, 1955). Complete with original dust jackets and fold-out maps, in very good condition. Ideal for Tolkien collectors and literary enthusiasts. The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien First Edition (1954-1955) Published by George Allen & Unwin, London Includes fold-out maps The Lord of the Rings, George Allen & Unwin, published in 1955, 1954, and 1955, the 1st UK Edition, 4th, 1st, 1st impressions. The Fellowship of the Ring (4th impression, November 1955): The jacket is present and shows noticeable fading, particularly on the spine, where the red color has considerably faded to brown. The front and back panels have minor discoloration and wear along the edges, with some mild scuffing and small tears. There is no price clipping on the jacket. The red cloth boards are in good condition, though there is some minor fading along the edges. The gilt lettering on the spine is still bright, but there is noticeable rubbing to the spine tips. There is no foxing present on the pages, and the text block is clean and well-preserved. An ownership name and date ("Marjorie Graham, October 1965") is written on the front free endpaper. The original fold-out map at the rear is present and in excellent condition, with no tears or marks. The Two Towers (1st impression, November 11, 1954): The original dust jacket is present and in better condition than The Fellowship of the Ring's jacket, though there is significant fading on the spine, turning it to a brownish hue. The front cover has retained more of its original color, but the edges show mild wear, particularly at the spine tips. The rear flap mentions blurbs from The Fellowship of the Ring, and the price on the jacket is still present. The red cloth boards show some light fading, especially around the edges. The spine is slightly rubbed, but the gilt lettering remains legible and clear. Ownership name and date ("Marjorie Graham, October 1965") is present on the front free endpaper, consistent with the other volumes in the set. There is no foxing visible on the pages, and the text block is clean and tight. The fold-out map is in excellent condition, complete and intact with no visible damage or wear. The Return of the King (1st impression, October 20, 1955, later state): The jacket is in good condition, though it shows significant fading on the spine and some wear to the front and back panels. The spine's once-red tone has faded to a brownish shade, similar to the other volumes, with noticeable wear and scuffing along the spine tips and edges. There is no price clipping on the jacket. The red cloth boards are in very good condition, with minimal wear, but there is some light fading at the spine edges. The gilt lettering on the spine remains bright with only slight rubbing to the spine ends. Ownership name and date ("Marjorie Graham, October 1965") is inscribed on the front free endpaper. Internally, the book is very clean with no foxing present, and the text block is well-preserved. The fold-out map at the back is present and in very good condition with no visible wear or damage. All three books retain their original dust jackets, which show significant fading, particularly on the spines, where the once-vibrant red color has turned to brown. The front and back panels have minor edge wear, scuffing, and small tears, but they are otherwise intact with no price clipping. The red cloth boards of all three volumes are in good to very good condition, with minimal wear and some slight fading, primarily on the edges. The gilt lettering on the spines remains bright and legible across all volumes, though there is some minor rubbing, particularly on the spine tips.

custom folder. Condizione: Very Good. First edition. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE PUBLICATION, TOLKIEN ANXIOUSLY INTRODUCES HIS MASTERPIECE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, TO A FAN OF THE HOBBIT. Tolkien had begun work on The Lord of the Rings in December of 1937 and by early 1950, after over twelve years of labor, the writing was essentially complete. The road to publication, however, was not an easy one, for Tolkien feared his book would have difficulty finding an audience. In February, 1950, he wrote about his concerns to his publisher (Allen & Unwin): "My work has escaped from my control and I have produced a monster: an immensely long, complex, rather bitter, and rather terrifying romance, quite unfit for children (if fit for anybody)." (Carpenter, 213). Tolkien's admission that he had produced a "monster" turned out to be prescient, for seeing the book through publication proved to be a challenge for both him and his publisher and three years after completion, the first volume (The Fellowship of the Rings) was still not in print. At the time of the present letter -December 2, 1953 -publication finally seemed imminent, and Tolkien was understandably nervous. Writing to Mrs. F.L. Perry, a fan of The Hobbit, he explains the delays in publication (it was supposed to be published by Christmas, 1953), worries that the book will be too long and expensive to reach a wide audience, introduces the world of The Lord of the Rings and expresses his hopes that she will like the book despite humbly worrying that it is filled with too much history, geography, and genealogy. His was right to be concerned about further delays in publication -the first edition of The Fellowship of the Ring wouldn't actually appear until July 29, 1954 - but of course his other major concern -that the book would not find an audience - was wildly misguided. The letter reads in full: December 2nd, 1953 Dear Mrs. Perry, Thank you very much for your letter, and kind words. All I can say is that, if you have so much enjoyed The Hobbit, then at least you will not be disappointed with The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, I have not only been crushingly busy this year, but also during October and November often ill, and certain adjuncts, necessary to publication, which only I can supply (e.g. maps) have been so long delayed that issue of Vol. I for Christmas, as planned, has become impossible. I hope it will appear early in 1954, and the next two vols. in quick succession. I am correcting the proofs of Vol. II at the moment. I do not know the price yet. Alas! Having put so much into this sequel, it has grown to such a large book that size and cost alone will, I fear, keep it out of many hands that would enjoy it. But I hear that the Americans are taking it up, after seeing an advance copy of Vol. I, and I am told that may make a larger issue and a rather lower price possible on the side of the Water. There is no more about Mirkwood or the northern countries, I am afraid; and the story moves away down the Great River to the kingdoms of the South. But there is a great deal of Ancient History and geography and genealogy in it: too much, I dare say, for all but the most devoted friends of Hobbits. I would send you some proof-copies, if I had any to spare, and if I did not think that you would enjoy it more, when it is complete, and has maps and appendices and all. But I hope very much that when at last you get it you will not be disappointed. It will take a very long time to read, even once, and even quickly! Yours sincerely, [signed] JRR Tolkien Typed Letter Signed ("J.R.R. Tolkien") to Mrs. F.L. Perry, two pages, on one half-sheet (both sides) of Tolkien's 76 Sandfield Road stationery. Center mailing fold, two tiny closed tears at extreme edges; generally fine. Housed in custom presentation folder. As far as we can tell, this letter is unpublished. References: Carpenter, Humphrey. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.

Hardback. First Edition. The Lord of the Rings is one of the bestselling novels ever written having sold over 150 million copies and has been named Britains bestloved novel of all time in BBCs The Big Read This first edition first issue set is scarce and highly collectible with only 3000 copies of the first instalment 3250 of the second and 7000 of the third All in original unrestored dust jackets bearing the iconic motif of the eye of Sauron All jackets unclipped with the price of 21s net displayed All volumes are in original publishers red cloth with gilt tooled title to spines Top edge of text block coloured red to all books Faint pencil inscription to books one and two which can easily be erased Neat ink inscription to ffep of volume one Joyce CarjerSmith sic Volume 1nbsphas some bumping to spine edges with a little fading to cloth here and two small faded marks one along the bottom edge of the cover and one at the foreedge To the jacket there is toning and darkening to spine Spine edges are a little worn with shallow chips not affecting text Shallow split about 1 cm in length to hinge at the top Creasing to spine over printed J R R although still legible Very small dark mark covering the t in part to the spine Endpapers are toned Faint infrequent spotting to some of the pages marginal and mostly to the rear Fold out map to rear is present and intact clean and crisp 424 pp foldout map Volume 2nbsphas a little bumping and fading to spine edges of cloth and very slight fading along the bottom edge of the cover The jacket is toned with darkening to spine Shallow chips to spine edges and shallow loss to top left edge of spine about 1 cm in length not affecting text Split to lower hinge of jacket about 15 cm in length Light toning to endpapers Very faint marginal spotting occasionally to rear pages Fold out map to rear present and intact clean and crisp 352 pp fold out mapVolume III the jacket is sharper having been cleaned has very minor bumping to spine edges of cloth binding otherwise sharp Jacket is lightly toned to extremities but crisp without chipping Faint toning and some foxing to ffep and rear endpapers Very faint spotting to edge of text block Fold out map to rear is present and intact crisp and clean 416 pp fold out map This is a chance to own the 1st edition 1st impression of the Lord of the Rings at a lower price than many on the market with copies in overall better condition selling over pound 8500000 this set was purchased from us back in 2009 we recently took it back from the same buyer so we know the history of the set. book.

Condizione: Acceptable. No Jacket. 1st UK Ed, 1st Impression. 3 Volume Set: All UK (George Allen and Unwin) First Edition, First Impressions. The Lord of the Rings comprised of: Volume 1: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954); Volume 2: The Two Towers (1954); The Return of the King (1955). No original dust jackets (includes facsimile jackets). Octavo. All bound in red cloth with gilt lettering on spines. Volumes are in fair condition with some water damage and cocked spines. The first volume has fading and a split to cloth on spine with a cut out from the original jacket taped onto front pastedown and newspaper article taped to rear free endpaper. All three volumes contain original fold-out maps at rear in Very Good condition.

Three volumes, all first editions. Finely bound for Asprey (probably by Sangorski & Suttcliffe) in full red morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine with a gilt 'ring' vignette in the other compartments of the spine. Gilt ruled borders to covers and turn-ins. Marbled end papers, all edges gilt. A fine set, handsomely bound. Fold out maps to the rear of each volume, printed in red and black, drawn by Christopher Tolkien. Tolkien's epic work of fantasy, which began life to as a sequel The Hobbit, but grew in scope and volume as Tolkien worked on it in stages between 1937 and 1949. On its own, it was a novel of great size, and publishing the work in three volumes was estimated to cost the publisher £1,000. Rayner Unwin, the biggest supporter of the novel at the firm, wrote to his father to tell him that he believed the book to be a work of genius, but it might lose the firm £1,000. Stanley Unwin replied, "If you believe it is a work of genius, then you may lose a thousand pounds". The first volume was eventually published in July 1954, in an edition of only 3,000 copies. The second volume, published that November, comprised 3,250 copies. Initial sales were promising, and so the final volume, published in October 1955, comprised 7,000 copies. Initial reviews were mixed, some thinking the narrative confused by Tolkien's use of language and detail, others thought it profound. W.H.Auden, a former pupil of Tolkien's, described it in a review as "a masterpiece", whilst the NY Herald Tribune was perhaps the most prescient, stating that it was "destined to outlast our time". Its reception amongst readers was swift and unequivocal and currently ranks amongst the highest selling books of any genre and among the most influential fantasy books ever published. Hammond A5a.

Hardcover. Condizione: Fine. 1st Edition. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1954-55) 'The Lord of the Rings', UK first editions, first impressions of all three volumes, published by George Allen & Unwin. Most luxuriously rebound in full red leather. Housed in a full white leather solander case. Condition: the books present in fine condition. There are no previous owner's marks, no names, no bookplates. The volumes were in very good condition before they were rebound without any foxing, nor tears or other blemishes to the paper. All three volumes also come with their original maps. Production details: bound in full red Pentland Indian goatskin supplied by J. Hewit and Sons. The leather has been vegetable tanned and hand polished to give it a two tone finish. The page block edges are gilded on all three sides. The three front panels are graced by Tolkien's own design, i.e. The Gates of Moria on The Fellowship of the Ring; Elvish Runes on The Two Towers; Tree of Gondor on The Return of the King. The artwork is stamped and gilded. The rear panels show Tolkien's monogram stamped and gilded in gold. The endpapers are handmade and supplied by master marbler Freya Scott at Paperwilds (UK). The red and gold swirls represent the hellish fire of Mordor and go well with the red goatskin. Five raised bands on the spine per volume with the respective title and author's name. The volumes are housed in a white full leather solander box lined with white suedel to protect the books. The front of the solander shows the 'One Ring the binds them all' with the Eye of Sauron just like on the original dust jacket art of the true first editions. The Elvish Runes to the top and bottom edge are replicated from the title pages of the first editions. The top line is in the Cirth script and reads "The Lord of the Rings translated from the Red Book". The bottom edge graces the following in Tengwar script: "of Westmarch by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Herein is set forth the history of-the War of-the Ring and the Return of the King as seen by the Hobbits". This also explains our choice of binding the volumes in red leather. This is perhaps the most beautiful rebound set ever created. We have not added any artistic liberties to the design. All design points are faithful to how Tolkien himself would have liked to see the book produced. All executed with the best quality materials available which speaks for itself. A quality production to last the ages to be passed from one generation to another. The Fellowship of the Ring had a print run of 3,000 copies; The Two Towers saw 3,250 copies printed; and The Return of the King was printed in 7,000 copies. We have more images to share if required. We welcome direct contact. First and Fine.

Condizione: Good. First Edition. First edition, 7th, 5th, 4th impressions respectively. Signed by J. R. R. Tolkien on the title page of The Fellowship of the Ring. Bound in publisher's red cloth with spines lettered in gilt. Folding maps in red and black at rear of each volume. Good. Fellowship of the Ring is rebacked. Cloth is worn and stained, gilt on spine is tarnished and rubbed, spines faded. Cambridge booksellers ticket at front pastedowns with previous owner's name to each front free endpaper dated 1959; light toning to contents. Lean to bindings of The Two Towers and The Return of the King. A well loved and read set of the fantasy classic, the first volume of which is signed by Tolkien.

Condizione: Near Fine. First Edition. 1954, 1954, 1955. Three volumes. First edition, first printing of each volume of Tolkien's iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy. With the signature mark "4" on page 49 of The Return of the King. Recently bound in full red leather with spines lettered in gilt, housed in a customs red cloth-covered slipcase. Near Fine, with all three folding maps at rear. Topstains mellowed, light spotting to textblock edges. Contents lightly tanned, with an occasional light stain or corner crease. A lovely set of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which is considered one of the greatest fantasy works ever written and is among the best-selling books of all time. Its contribution to popular culture has been profound.

Gilt-decorated Morocco. Condizione: Fine. First Editions. First editions, first impressions. Complete in 3 volumes. 424, 352 & 416 pp. folding maps at the rear of each volume. Bound in full red morocco with marbled endpapers, by Bayntun Riviere. Five raised bands to spine with gilt lined compartments containing gilt ring emblems or gilt-lettered titles. Striking ring and eye design to boards. All edges gilt. A fabulous set. 8vo.

Hard Cover. Condizione: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Included. First Edition. Three volumes. With a fold-out map at the end of each volume. First American editions, first impressions of all three volumes, in first impression dust jackets (dust jacket issue points: the ascender on the "d" in "Frodo" is clipped on line 10 of the rear flap blurb of Fellowship; the "r" in "Towers" on the front panel of Two Towers has a little nick on its right side; and the dollar sign on the "$5.00" price of the Return of the King jacket has two uprights instead of one). One of 1,500 first impression copies of Fellowship, one of 1,000 copies of Two Towers, and one of 5,000 copies of Return of the King. With a handwritten and signed note from Tolkien in black pen laid into Fellowship: "If you would like a signature for 'The Lord of the Rings,' you can stick this in with my good wishes / J. R. R. Tolkien / 20/6/73." The note is dated only a few months before Tolkien's death. Publisher's blue cloth, spines and covers lettered in gilt; in the original yellow, blue, and gray pictorial dust jackets designed by Walter Lorraine, with woodland border design to front panels; housed a slipcase (made by the publisher but for another set) with red label, lettered in gilt. Near fine books: Fellowship with some offsetting to front free endpaper, and contemporary gift inscription in pencil to front free endpaper; Two Towers with a gentle lean to spine, a small closed tear to top edge of front panel, and some soiling to board edges; Return of the King with light wear to spine ends. Near fine unclipped dust jackets for Fellowship and Two Towers, with light fading to spines, light wear along top edge of front panel of Fellowship, and light soiling along top edges of panels and head of spine of Two Towers; good or better unclipped dust jacket for Return of the King, with light soiling to panels and spine, shallow chipping to spine ends and corners, a few small closed tears to panel edges, and a two-inch closed tear to top right edge of front panel; very good or better slipcase, with a touch of dampstaining to top edge, some scratches to bottom edge, and light spotting to interior. Overall, a sturdy collection of the earliest American printings of all three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, already scarce, and with a very desirable handwritten note by Tolkien laid in. The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy trilogy, written as the sequel to Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit. It tells the story of the second attempt of the men, elves, and dwarves of Middle Earth to destroy the Dark Lord Sauron, the "Lord of the Rings." In The Hobbit, set almost 2,000 years after Sauron was initially vanquished, hobbit Bilbo Baggins discovers Sauron's lost ring, which he used to control the inhabitants of Middle Earth vis-à-vis corrupt leaders whom he gave lesser rings to in order to gain power over them. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo leaves the ring to his nephew Frodo, who joins with a group of men, hobbits, dwarves, and elves on a quest to destroy it. In The Two Towers, Frodo and Sam continue alone on their increasingly perilous journey to destroy the ring while the remaining members of the Fellowship try to protect the realms of Middle Earth from the troops of Sauron. The Return of the King concludes the trilogy with the final destruction of Sauron and the reestablishment of proper order in the worlds of men and hobbits. Each volume is divided into two books and contains chapters narrated by different characters.

Full Morocco. Condizione: Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. A true first edition first impression set of The Lord of the Rings, by J R R Tolkien, published by George Allen and Unwin, London, with J R R Tolkien's signature tipped in. Only 3000 copies of the first impression of The Fellowship of the Ring were printed. The printers then broke down the typesetting frames for reuse, so when a second impression was required, it was actually a completely new impression, not a reuse of the originals. This makes the true first of The Fellowship of the Ring a genuinely rare book. The Two Towers had a print run of 3250. The Return of the King ran to 7000 copies. It has the signature mark "4" in page 49, as well as the "sagging" text, which Hammond describes in his Tolkien bibliography as the First State. The books come in a neat understated slipcase in red cloth, showing the exquisite workmanship on the spines. Each volume is custom-bound to high specification in full red morocco with the eye in the ring motif on the front boards that appeared on the dustwrappers of the 1st editions. The boards also have a single line gilt frame. The spines have gilt lined and raised bands, with gilt titles and author stamped to spines, the famous JRRT design to the base of the spines along with the dates of publication: 1954, 1954, 1955. All edges gilt. Inner gilt ferrule frames to interior, and to the rear bearing the binder's stamp: Temple Bookbinders, who were bookbinders to HM Queen Elizabeth. Internally the books are EXCEPTIONALLY clean, without foxing except for a few tiny spots to the final page of each volume, where the map has allowed air to circulate over the page and to the half title page of The Fellowship of the Ring. The maps are intact, sharp and clean. The bindings are tight, clean, open easily and are expertly done. A really fine set. Prices for Tolkien first editions are rising and rising, and this set is offered at a lower price for those wishing to own a fabulous cultural artefact. Shipping free worldwide. DM me for any questions. Thank you for your interest! -1 p. Signed by Author(s). Book.

Hardcover. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Near Fine. First Edition. Allen and Unwin. 1956, 56, 57 Impressions 5,4,3 A lovely first edition set. Outstanding condition dust jackets and books! Dust jacket are grey rather than tan, which is much closer to the original unfaded colour on the flaps and very rare! This is now extremely hard to find, in any condition. Uniform fading to jacket colours, no tattering to spine ends. FotR has a small closed tear upper left cover as shown. Books are clean and bright, read-once condition. There's a small onwners name on the inside cover of each indicating they were bought together at the time as a set! Again very unigue. We have indicated in previous listings impressions 7,5,4 or 7, 4,3 in all probability could have been purchase as a set of three titles in the bookshops of the day, some with the first ever slipcases. You could never buy the frirst printings of each title at the same time except by luck of distribution. Much less common, but equally probable is this set 5,4,3 impressions which is the very earliest "production set" published in 1956. It was common to re-use jackets so FotR 6th printing jacket on a 5th book, TT 3rd jacket on 4th book, RotK 3rd jacket on 3rd book. They would have been bought this way in the shop. We feel these very early, cherished sets are special having been purchased before Tolkien's works became so famous and iconic. These early collectors were trend setters of the day. We advise our investment customers to buy the earliest set you can afford, in the best condition possible.These sets will appreciate the fastest.

Hardcover. Condizione: Good. Condizione sovraccoperta: Good. 1st Edition. Dust jackets: Age-toned with some repairs and minor loss, most notably to the lower spine of The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship of the Ring: Mottled with patchy staining; gilt title faded on spine. Contents clean and bright. The Two Towers: Cloth clean; contents bright and fresh. The Return of the King: Patchy fading to spine and gilt title; otherwise in excellent, bright condition. The set housed in a protective slipcase. A very good set of the first issues of Tolkien s masterpiece, the single most important work of fantasy literature in the twentieth century. The Lord of the Rings established an enduring mythology, reshaping the genre. www.rarebooks.ie.

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, folding-map at end of each volume, pp. 423; 352; 416, 8vo, original mid-blue cloth, lettered in gilt to upper board and backstrip, second and third volumes with slight lean to spine, touch rubbed at extremities, the first volume a little worn at bottom corners, top edges yellow, first volume with flyleaf browned from previous insert, dustjackets with designs by Walter Lorraine, all correct first issue, generally in excellent state, that to the third volume with some light soiling and a little rubbed and chipped, a very good set. An excellent set of the first US publications of Tolkien's masterpiece; the second volume with the publisher's promotional card laid in, using Lorraine's drawing of Frodo and Auden's quote praising the earlier instalment (both featured on the dustjacket) - listing the publication date (April 21st), and assuring interested parties that 'devotees of the hobbits are growing in number. It is fast becoming a cult'. (Hammond & Anderson A5bi-iii).

Original Cloth. Condizione: Near Fine. Condizione sovraccoperta: Very Good Plus. J.R.R. Tolkien (illustratore). First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Published by Houghton Mifflin, 1954/1955/1956 1st US Editions, 1st impression/1st impression/1st impression, respectively. An exceptional and lovely set of first editions of this classic of fantasy literature. The set is housed in a custom leather slipcase with gold stamping of Tolkien's Ring and Eye design to side panel, the JRRT monogram to the rear, and the White Tree of Gondor to the front panel, to show and protect this beautiful set. The set is all original cloth with the correct original 1st State dustjackets. The Fellowship of the Ring is the true 1st US printing or impression, from the same print run as the UK edition, with the 1954 date to the title page. The dustjacket of the Fellowship of the Ring has a scrape, creating a small hole at the upper back fold of the spine, a small amount of loss at the base of the spine and a tiny amount of scuffing or loss to the tips of the flap folds. The dustjacket still presents beautifully with nice color. It has the correct issue points with the ascender clipped on the 'd' in 'Frodo' on the tenth line of the blurb on the back flap. The following 'o' is not nicked as is found on later dustjackets. The photo on the back of the dustjacket is cut straight across, not in the 'V' shape found on the 3rd & 4th impressions. Overall in Very Good Plus condition. The first state map is mounted to the recto of the rear free endpaper and has no extra folds or tears. The Two Towers is also the true 1st impression, with the 1955 date to the title page, from the same print run as the UK 1st. The dustjacket shows the 1st printing points of the 'stripe' at the upper and lower edges of the front panel, and the 'notch' in the 'r' of Towers. The notch is only found on the 1st impression dustjacket, where the stripe defect is found on some later printings. The book and dustjacket are both in Near Fine/Very Good Plus condition, no names or writing, no foxing or offsetting. A small split and some loss to the top of the spine fold area, with a tiny amount of scuffing to a couple of the flap fold tips, with the front flap fold splitting with some minor loss along the edges. The upper edge of the rear panel has a couple of triangular tears, with loss leading into the flap fold area. The map is still attached to the rear pastedown, in Near Fine condition, no tears or extra folds noted. Both the Fellowship and Two Towers maps show the 1st state point of a red dot off the coast of Umbar, which is found on both the UK and US 1st and 2nd Impression maps. The Return of the King is in the best condition of the three books and dustjackets. The book is clean and bright, lacking any previous owners names or writing, as are the other two books. The dustjacket exhibits the correct issue point for this 1st impression book, including the oversized '5' in the price with double uprights on the Return of the King. The dustjacket shows some light soiling to the white areas of the rear panel, still close to Near Fine condition overall. The books are tight and clean without inscriptions or writing, top stain still shows to all three books. The Two Towers is the only book that has its dustjacket price clipped. Besides being a truly beautiful looking set, this set is very scarce and collectable, with the 1st Two Towers being the rarest of the original 1st Editions, both US & UK, with only 1000 printed. The original maps are present in all three volumes, no extra folds or tears noted, 1st state maps in the Fellowship and Two Towers with the red dot on the coast of the Havens of Umbar. The Return of the Kings map is the correct 1st impression, with the size being approx. 16.5 X 14 inches, with a 'Borough Mill Bond' watermark, no tears or extra fold noted. A small booksellers sticker to the bottom of the rear endpaper. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Ed's. Near Fine / Very Good Plus.

Finely bound set of each title comprising the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full red morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panels, folding maps. In fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. The first printing of the second, revised, edition (with "Second Edition 1966" on the copyright page with no further printings listed). An exceptional set. The Lord of the Rings began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's fantasy novel The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, much of it during World War II in letters to his son, "and finally, having polished it to his own satisfaction, published it as a trilogy from 1954 to 1955, a volume at a time, impatiently awaited by a growing audience. It is considered one of this century's lasting contributions to that borderland of literature between youth and age. It seems destined to become this century's contribution to that select list of books which continue through the ages to be read by children and adults with almost equal pleasure." (Eyre, 134-35). It has went on to become the third best selling novel of all-time with 150 million copies sold.