Tolkien, J. R. R.
[The Lord of the Rings:]
£25,200
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 8 February 2023 at 10:00 GMT
Description
The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1954-54-55. 3 works, 8vo, original red cloth, spines lettered in gilt, top edges dyed red, folding map printed in red and black to rear of each work, with the dust jackets (each unclipped and retaining original price of 21s), Fellowship with illustrations in text (map of the Shire; inscription on the One Ring; and the gate of Moria), Return of the King with signature-mark '4' and sagging type on p.49. Spines rolled, spotting to endpapers, strips of browning to free endpapers, dust jackets variably marked and with a few nicks and closed tears along edges, jacket spines sunned, scuffed and with light fraying and softening to head and foot; Fellowship with a few light spots to outer text-leaves and to map, tips bumped, jacket front panel with strip of browning along top edge and small hole to lower fore corner; Two Towers jacket with small perforation towards head [Hammond & Anderson A5 a.i-iii]
Footnote
Note: First editions, first impressions, each volume respectively one of 3,000, 3,250 and 7,000 copies only.