The Lord of The Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

Complete set of each title in Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed levant scarlet morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt facsimile signature of Tolkien to each front panel, gilt scrolled inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt in 22 karat gold, folding map at rear of each volume. Founded over a century ago in 1900, the Harcourt Bindery is the oldest and largest traditional bindery in America exclusively devoted to fine traditional leather bookbinding by hand. The Lord of the Rings is a first edition, eighth impression (1960). The Two Towers is a first edition, fourth impression (1956), The Fellowship of the Ring is a first edition, eighth impression (1960). Deaccessioned from the Urquhart Memorial Library, circular library stamp to each title page. In fine condition. A stunning 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 from Tolkien 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.…