Njits
Super Freak
Well there is a UK and a US version, I'm probably going for the Uk version because of the nice sleeve and red colors
UK
US
UK
US
Leaving aside the very expensive truly limited editions, and the original 1st/1st publications, these are the ones I own and love most of all.
Best single volume:
Deluxe Slip-cased Edition - Allen & Unwin, 1969, ISBN 004823091X
Deluxe Slip-cased Edition (quarter-bound leather) - Harper Collins, 1997, ISBN 0261103687
Expect to pay 500 pounds or more for a 1st edition Deluxe Allen & Unwin, around 300 for a Harper Collins (less for later printings). But they are both truly lovely books - much better quality than the Harper Collins 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, 2004, ISBN 0007182368. In fact that whole run of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion & The Children of Hurin (previously mentioned in this thread) lack much of the quality of earlier deluxe editions.
Best three volume edition:
Hardback Illustrated Centenary Boxset - Harper Collins, 1992, ISBN 0261102958
Much easier to handle and read than the unwieldy single volume (or the equally large 3 volume movie tie-in 2008 release) but almost impossible to find as a boxed set of three, though it is sometimes possible to find individual hardback volumes of this edition. I think I paid around 300 pounds for mine, but I have seen them as high as 600 pounds. A lovely and very collectible set. The deluxe version (just 250 copies, ISBN 0261102990) usually goes for around 1000 pounds.
Best seven volume edition:
Hardback Millennium Edition Boxset (+ CD) - Harper Collins, 1999, ISBN 0261103873
The easiest to read (nice & small) and in six volumes as Tolkien intended (seventh is Appendices). Becoming increasingly hard to find in hardback, but still available for around 100 pounds (a lot less for the paperback version). These are the ones I reach for most of all when I fancy a read.
Sean.
ISBN numbers from https://www.tolkienbooks.net/ not always reliable.
Posting that custom edition was kind of irrelevant to the OP's question, but if I had it I would probably take any advantage I could to brag about it as well.
Do you have pictures of these books? Amazon doesn't seem to have them and I'm really curious to see what they look like.
I have this one. It's ok. The print seems to get lighter and darker at various spots in the book. At least in my copy. It's kinda annoying. Also there is no illustrations which is disappointing. I don't like reading it very much cuz it is so big and ackward. I just prefer to read some cheap paperbacks. However, i own a green colored version of The Hobbit done in this leather style and it is truly amazing. It has Tolkiens illustrations in it and everything.just get this, one of the best and wont break your wallet too much.
I'll try and post some pics.
The OP seems most interested in the Harper Collins 50th Anniversary Edition. Though I only collect UK editions (Allen & Unwin and Harper Collins) in terms of quality, this is one case where the cheaper American Edition (Houghton Mifflin) is actually much better value than the British one. The Harper Collins 50th Anniversary Edition is already in its 3rd printing and wasn't worth the 100 pounds MRRP even in its first run of 3,000 copies. It is also worth noting that the 400+ Euro boxed set the OP is also considering will not contain a 1st printing of The Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary Edition; most likely a 2nd or 3rd impression.
As with all Tolkien books the question is whether you want something to keep & collect or something just to read...
Pics:
1. 1969 1st Edition/1st impression 1-volume slipcased Deluxe Edition - numerous further printings and impressions until 1992.
2. 1997 1st Edition/1st impression 1-volume slipcased Deluxe Edition, quarter-leather version - further four impressions until 2002.
3. 1992 3-volume Centenary illustrated hardback boxset - not reprinted.
4. 1992 3-volume Deluxe Centenary illustrated hardback boxset - not reprinted.
5. 1999 7-volume Millennium Edition hardback boxset - not reprinted.
Sean.
There's a cheap new Silmarillion book here https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-list...w?ie=UTF8&qid=1334856471&sr=8-5&condition=new I'd never pay that much for a book.
EDIT: When should the The Silmarillion be read ? Before The Hobbit ? After LOTR ? I'm not very familiar with this one.
I *think* it should be The Hobbit, The Lord Of The Rings, The silmarillion.
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