About this Item
A complete 3-volume set of the 1st American Edition of Tolkien's masterwork, in the 3rd/5th/1st impressions respectively (Actually they are the 2nd/4th/1st impressions, see below). Their conditions, also respectively, are VG, VG+, and NF. Original British sheets published in America by Houghton Mifflin in 1954, 1955, and 1956. "The Fellowship of the Ring" has an undated title page, and also has the Allen & Unwin device on the half-title and a colophon on p. 424, the half-title itself being a cancel-title leaf, along with pp. 29-30, indicating it is variant 2 of the 3rd impression (technically the 2nd American impression, since the 2nd British impression was never shipped to the United States). The endpages are lightly foxed, and the top edge is very lightly so, with a bump to the top front cover corner and an indentation to the bottom front, as well as some light shelfwear and faint tanning towards the cover edges. The dustjacket is strongly indicated to be a 3rd or 4th impression, possessing their signature Tolkien portrait photo on the back trimmed not straight across, as on the 1st and later impressions, but with a slight V-shape. It is in NF shape with some slight fading and wear, but no chips or tears. The Two Towers has the 5th impression's signature copyright page identical to that of the 1st impression, except the copyright date is "1955" instead of "1954." The book is VG+, with a bottom front corner bump, some light wear and shelf curl to the spine head and heel, very light corner wear, a light ink signature on the front pastedown, very lightly browned gutters, and a single small stained spot on the front free flyleaf. The VG+ dj has an early issue price ($5.00), and is likely the same impression as the book, as the cover art's line work, although lightly sunned and faded, appears to be dark blue, and not jet-black as in djs later than the 5th impression. It also has some light wrinkling, but no chips or tears. The light sunning has also affected the Title lettering, fading it from red to brown. The Return of the King is a true 1st impression, with all 1st impression points: "1956" on title pg, no other printings listed on copyright pg., the "4" printed near the bottom of p. 9, and "Men" with extra space at the bottom of p. 281. NF with very slight head and heel shelf wear, but otherwise Fine. The VG+ dj is also a true first impression, unfortunately price-clipped but with the bottom of the oversized "5" and the dollar sign possessing two uprights instead of only 1 both still visible. It has some light staining on the back, as well as some light sunning, but is otherwise in beautiful condition. All 3 dustjackets have been expertly conserved and restored by one of the premier paper conservators in the United States, and ROTK in addition has had some light restoration work. All 3 volumes are further protected by mylar jackets. A beautiful set of the very rare early impressions of this edition.
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