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Tolkien, J. R. R.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Limited, London;
Date of Publication: 1955
Stock Code: 15417
First editions: fifth, fourth, and third impressions respectively. Three volumes complete. Octavo’s, pp., 423, [1]; 352; 416. Folding map to end of each volume. Uniform publisher’s scarlet cloth; titled to spines; top edges dyed red. All in the original cream dust-jackets (’Fellowship’ sixth impression; ‘Towers’ third impression; ‘Return’ third impression); ‘Fellowship’ price-clipped, ‘Towers’ and ‘Return’ unclipped with price of 21s. ‘Fellowship’: Sellotape repair to edges of upper and lower panels of price-clipped jacket; tape-marks to spine; spine reinforced to the reverse of the jacket with paper. A few minor marks otherwise cloth and gilt bright; spine slightly cocked but binding otherwise strong and square. A few spots of foxing to edge of text-block else internally clean. A very good copy in acceptable jacket. ‘Towers’: Spine panel of jacket sunned; very minor loss to spine-tips; jacket otherwise rather bright and not price-clipped. Gilt tarnished; a few minor marks to upper board; binding strong and square. Minor spots of foxing to edge of text-block, else internally clean. A very good copy in very good or better jacket. ‘Return’: Minor loss to corners and spine-tips of jacket; close tear between spine panel and lower panel approx 6cm; spine panel creased and toned. Not price-clipped. Minor shelf-wear to corners; cloth and gilt bright, the binding strong and square. A few spots of foxing to edge of text-block else internally clean. A very good copy in like jacket. Overall a solid attractive set of early reprints in their original dust-jackets
A first edition, early impression set of of probably the most important fantasy novel ever written. Tolkien’s fantasy epic secured his position as the most celebrated fantasy author of the twentieth century. £2000.00