The Lord of the Rings: First Deluxe Edition (1964), 3 Volumes in the Pauline Baynes Triptych Slipcase

THE LORD OF THE RINGS. J. R. R. Tolkien. FIRST DELUXE EDITION. London: George Allen & Unwin; Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Printed 1963, issued 1964. Three volumes in the Pauline Baynes "triptych" slipcase. Allen & Unwin's first deluxe edition was issued in 1964 using sheets of the 1963 impressions (Hammond & Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, p.98). This set has exactly those impressions: - The Fellowship of the Ring, Thirteenth Impression 1963 - The Two Towers, Tenth Impression 1963 - The Return of the King, Tenth Impression 1963 Black buckram, spines lettered in gilt, all page edges gilt, with ribbon markers. Issued without dust jackets. SLIPCASE ARTWORK BY PAULINE BAYNES: the publisher's pictorial slipcase carries Baynes's colour "triptych", three panoramic scenes of Middle-earth (one for each volume) framed by trees, painted for this deluxe edition. According to the publisher's and binder's records, about 1,000 sets were bound, in November 1964. It was not a numbered limited edition. Superb condition. No inscriptions to any volume. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING: Near Fine to Fine. Appears unread, with the bookmark in its original position. Extremely minor rub marks to the page edges and boards. The gilt on the spine is still bright. All page edges gilt. THE TWO TOWERS: As above. The spine is lighter than the boards (a paler Two Towers spine is commonly seen with this issue). The book appears never to have been fully opened since new, as it has that tension to the hinge when opening the front and rear boards. THE RETURN OF THE KING: As above. Only very slightly lighter spine compared to the boards. The gilt to the spine has very minimal rubbing. SLIPCASE CONDITION: Very Good. The colours are still lovely and bold. Slight rubbing. - There are two closed splits. One is to the top right edge (as you look at the spines). The other is at the top edge to the rear; at this edge the top board seems not to be flush with the edge of the rear-facing board. - We decided not to have the slipcase restored, leaving that choice to the buyer. On inspection, the vast majority of the original paper covering the slipcase appears to be present either side of the splits.…