J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 1st Ed, Imp. 5, 6, 5 with 2nd State Case

  

1956, 59, 59 Impressions 5,6,5 A lovely first edition set. Uniform fading to jacket spine colours, but only minor tattering to spine ends.

It's unusual to have an earlier impression FotR, but not impossible as the bookstores reused leftover books to make sets. Books have no serious flaws, gilt bright, pages clean no marks. Fellowship has more wear as usual. Wear and color to all jackets is uniform indicating they have been kept together as a set and in the case. The slipcase is in fantastic condition. What is unusual about this set is that while the jacket spine colours are tanned, the cover colours are the original light grey. The flaps even more so. Most old sets in the UK suffer from damp and mould causing the paper to darken to beige and brown. The Second edition has dark grey jackets, but few people know the original colour of the First editions is light grey. I've seen few sets in my 20 years of dealing with near original grey colour dust jackets like this. As Tolkien book collecting grows in popularity, the availability of collectible/investment original condition books and jackets disappears. It is not just the printing/edition that matters to the value, but that serious collectors want only the best condition.

Books with damaged jackets or even no jackets at all, are now increasing in price, driving up the price of complete and better condition copies. That's how important condition is to value. Unlike other genre's, the market for Tolkien early editions is quite mature and well established. It is not a matter of waiting for a better copy to come along. There aren't going to be any!

There are no more hiding in the attic or charity shops. People sell off their more worn copies when they upgrade and now leave their collections to their children. We've been a specialist dealer for 20 years.

Some examples that were plentiful just two years ago are now completely gone or only the dregs appear. First editions The Lord of the Rings and Hobbits remain the most in demand.

This item is in the category "Books, Comics & Magazines\Antiquarian & Collectable". The seller is "dogfark" and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Binding: Hardback
• Format: Hardback
• Special Attributes: First Edition, 1st Edition, Dust Jacket
• Author: J.

  Tolkien

• Modified Item: No
• Title/Series: The Lord of the Rings
• Year Printed: 1956