The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King. Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King Publication: London: Allen and Unwin, 1954-5 Edition: First Edition. All three volumes are first impressions, lacking the original dust jackets.
49 of "Return of the King, " the printing error (showing some off-kilter text) is evident, and the signature mark reads 4. 281, the very last word reads Men. (that is, correctly, with no space within the word). Sources differ on the priority of these states, but it is known that all variant copies were issued simultaneously. All three folding maps present, though the one for "Fellowship" is detached and laid-in. All three volumes cocked, with some stains to the bottom edges, and "Return of the King" has a sizeable coffee (or similar) stain to the fore-edge, which, while unsightly, does not bleed into the interior. Inner hinges starting, but holding, and not cracked. As in all other first impression copies of "Return of the King" that we've encountered, the map is printed on a brighter paper stock than those of the first two volumes. Altogether a good or better set of these extremely desirable first editions, which represent a watershed moment in modern publishing history, which vaulted the "Fantasy" genre into widespread acceptance, both as popular fiction and as high literature. As a small, independent bookseller in Cleveland, Ohio, I deal in general used, rare, and antiquarian books, autographs, manuscripts, pamphlets, and personal and family papers in all subjects. My family has been in the antiquarian book business since 1971. We take pride in our business and make every attempt to describe each item in our inventory accurately according to the highest standards of the rare book trade. This listing was created by Bibliopolis. This item is in the category "Books & Magazines\Antiquarian & Collectible".The seller is "clebookcompany" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States. R