Tolkien, J.R.R. | First edition set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Tolkien, J.R.R.

[Lord of the Rings Trilogy] — The Fellowship of the Ring. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954 — The Two Towers. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955 — The Return of the King. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955

3 vols., 8vo. Half-titles, folding maps printed in red and black at ends; lightly toned, a few stray spots including to maps, final map with open tear to margin not affecting image, adhesive residue costing a few words on final text leaf. Publisher's red cloth, spine lettered in gilt with Tolkien's ring device, top stained red; head and foot of spine rubbed, a few stray stains to cloth and dampstaining to vol. 2, minor offsetting to endleaves. Pictorial white, red, black and gold dust jackets priced "21s net"; jackets worn, sunned, and soiled, chipped with some loss at head and foot of spine, splits and closed tears to extremities, tape repairs to vol. 1, vol. 3 price-clipped. Housed in a custom slipcase.

First edition, first printings of the fantasy trilogy to rule them all.

Three months after the publication of The Hobbit, Tolkien's publishers encouraged him to write a sequel; he, however, was not so eager, as he "could not think of anything more to say about hobbits" (Hammond). In a letter to Stanley Unwin on 15 October 1937, he begrudgingly agreed: "Mr. Baggins seems to have exhibited so fully both the Took and the Baggins sides of their nature... But if it is true that The Hobbit has come to stay and more will be wanted, I will start the process of thought..."

While his academic career and the Second World War served to delay the ultimate publication of the series, both also inspired the elaborate mythology that would build the greatest work of modern fantasy. In 1952, after nearly 15 years of development, Tolkien wrote his publishers with urgency: "I am anxious to publish The Lord of the Rings as soon as possible... I believe it to be a great (though not flawless) work."

The first impression of The Fellowship of the Ring numbered only 3,000 copies; The Two Towers followed at 3,250; The Return of the King at 7,000. Page 49 of this copy of Return of the King indicates the first state, without the signature mark "4" or the sagging type in the word "Legolas"; though Hammond's bibliography originally identified the presence of these issue points as essential to a first state, this has since been amended to clarify that the presence of the signature mark and sagging type indicates a later state.

REFERENCES

Hammond and Anderson A5.a.i-iii; West A20-22