London: Allen & Unwin, 1954. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1st Edition. Original Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. George Allen & Unwin, published in 1954, 1954, and 1955, the 1st UK Edition, 1st impressions. The Fellowship of the Ring is a 1st impression published July 29th, 1954. One of 1500 printed for the UK. The Two Towers is a 1st impression published November 11th, 1954. One of 2250 printed for the UK. The Return of the King is a 1st impression published October 20th, 1955. This copy is the 1st State, as per Hammon & Anderson, with the signature mark '4' and having the slipped type on page 49. Correspondence with Wayne Hammond has indicated he has revised his original definition of the 1st state, from what was described in the Tolkien Bibliography, making this the later state. All original maps are present and in Near Fine condition, no tears or extra folds. All three books are in the correct original dust jackets, with the Return of the King being the 1st State, lacking the blurbs to the rear flap. None of the volumes have a previous owners name or any other markings. None of the dust jackets are price clipped.  Additional digital photo's available, inquire if interested.  Although not in unblemished condition, this is an opportunity to own a rare 1st Impression Set in original dust jackets!  It is these blemishes that make this sets list price 50% of the cheapest set currently on eBay.  In fact, I have seen 1st Impression FotR and Two Towers without dust jackets listed for prices comparable to my auction price, which includes dust jackets! Remember, only 1500 such sets could have ever existed due to the limited print size of FotR.  After 60 years most of these sets have now been lost or rebound, so this set this a truly collectible set!! This is the lowest I will go for a starting auction bid, so Don't Miss Out!!!   

The Fellowship of the Ring 

The Fellowship of the Ring is a 1st UK Edition, 1st impression with the date 1954 to the title page, and no other printings listed, indicating a true 1st Edition 1st Impression.  Another indication of the first impression is the red dot off the coast of Umbar (See picture #4) on the map attached at the back of the book. The book is in Good to Very Good condition, with a binding that is still nice and tight overall.  There is 1/2 cm forward spine lean and some fraying to the top and bottom spine ends.  The gilt is still visible, although shows some soiling and darkening due to age.  The boards are clean, with shelf wear on the top and bottom edges.  All four corners are lightly bumped and the front two corners show some fraying.  The pages ends are slightly browned with age and have some spotting. The FEP and REP shows remnants of tape marks/ghosts from early protective paste downs. The top stain remains well preserved, being slightly faded and dusty.  Some pages throughout the book show some slight bleeding at the top of the page, but none more than .2 cm onto the page.  There is some slight foxing to pages 14, 31-33, and 397-399.

The dustjacket is in Acceptable to Good condition.  It is not price clipped, but has paper loss on the opposite panel corner that contained "The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien, G. Allen & Unwin, 21s net".  The spine shows tanning and fading to the red lettering.  The front and back covers also show some tanning and soiling, especially to the back cover. As seen from the pictures #1, #2, #10, the greatest fault of this volume is the paper loss of the dustjacket.  It is missing as much as 2 1/2 cm of the top of the spine, which encompasses all of the "J.R.R." and much of the "Tolkien", and as much as 1 cm at the bottom.  The paper loss extends to the front and back cover at both the top and bottom.  There is also paper loss that unfortunately encompasses "FELL" and 1/2 of the "O" in the title.  The dust jacket also has tears at many of the folded areas and wear to the edges, including folding, creasing, and open as well as closed tears.  I will not list each blemish here, but have additional pictures of all relevant areas and am happy to take more upon request.   

The Two Towers

The Two Tower's is a 1st UK Edition, 1st impression, has the date 1954 to the title page, and no other printings listed, which would indicate a true 1st imp.  The book is in Very Good condition with a 1/2 cm forward spine lean, but with a binding that is still nice and tight overall.  There are no names or other writings.  Shows a slight bit of foxing to pages 190-210. The boards are clean and bright, with a bump to the middle top of the back cover and the corners.  The book has very little shelf wear on the top or bottom edges, and only minor wear to the spine tips. Gilt is still clean and bright. The pages ends are slightly browned with age and have some spotting. The FEP and REP shows remnants of tape marks/ghosts from early protective paste downs. The top stain remains well preserved, being only slightly faded and dusty. 

The dust jacket is in Good + condition.  It is not price clipped, but has tanning and fading of the red lettering on the spine, and is soiled in areas.  Like the FotR, the biggest blemish is the paper loss to the dust jacket.  It is missing as much as 3/4 cm of the top of the spine, which encompasses most of the "J.R.R."  The paper loss extends to the front and back cover.  There is 1.2 cm by .5 cm closed tear or puncture in the "eye" on the front cover.  The bottom of the spine has a 1 cm by 1 cm triangle chip as well as some smaller chips.  The dust jacket also has chips at the corner as well as a few closed tears along the spine creases.  This dust jacket is in better condition that FotR, probably because some used tape anchors at most of the folded areas.  I will not list each blemish here, but have additional pictures of all relevant areas and am happy to take more upon request.      

The Return of the King

The Return of the King is a 1st UK Edition, 1st impression, the later state with the slipped type and signature mark '4' on page 49, as per Wayne Hammond's revised opinion. The book is in Very Good condition with a 1/2 cm forward spine lean, but with a binding that is still nice and tight overall.  In fact, it almost appears never to have been read and there is no foxing.  The boards are clean and bright, but are somewhat bowed in the middle.  There are no names or other writings.  Only slightly bumped at the corners.  The book has very little shelf wear on the top or bottom edges, and only minor bruising to the spine tips. Gilt is still clean and bright. The pages ends are slightly browned with age and have some spotting. The FEP and REP shows remnants of tape marks/ghosts from early protective paste downs, but much less than either FotR or Two Towers. The top stain remains well preserved, being only slightly faded and dusty. 

The dust jacket is in Very Good condition.  It is not price clipped, but has tanning and fading of the red lettering on the spine, and is soiled in areas.  Unlike the FotR and Two Towers, there is little paper loss to the dust jacket.  It is missing as much as 1/2 cm by 1 cm triangle chip at the top back of the spine.  There is also a 1/4 cm by 1 cm triangle chip at the bottom back of the spine.  Both the top and bottom of the spine has some smaller chips.  The dust jacket also has chips at the corner as well as a few closed tears along the spine creases.  This dust jacket is in better condition that FotR and Two Towers, probably because a used tape anchor at the top of the spine, where the others saw the most paper loss.  I will not list each blemish here, but have additional pictures of all relevant areas and am happy to take more upon request.   

Payment due with 5 days of Auction End.