For me, this is a "Wonders of" on so many levels
http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/001266.htm
"History of Middle-Earth 3 Volume Box Set, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Published by Harper Collins in 2002, these are later printings, #1 is a 6th impression, #2 a 5th impression and #3 is a 5th impression".
The wording is ambiguous, but I think this at least hints that this is a 2002 set, but with those impressions, it is the reprint boxed set published a couple of years back (2012, I think), which is still available brand new, and for a lot less money. At least, this should be made clear, especially given the comments about how hard to find the set it is (which definitely implies it is the original set, as that IS hard to find).
"The 3 volumes are all in Near Fine condition, in Near Fine dustjackets, now protected in archival protectors, except for a large bump to the upper left corner of the slipcase and the same corner of book number 1 is bumped as well."
Er.... No. The 3 volumes are NOT in Near Fine condition. Volume 1 is completely knackered. You can't just add "Except for [INSERT MASSIVE DAMAGE HERE]" to the description "Near Fine", otherwise every book in the world could be classed as Near Fine with some qualifier attached.
It has not split the seams of the case or anything more than wrinkled the rear boards of the book. Unfortunately the shipping damage of this type is quite common, due to the very heavy weight of this set, and the fairly fragile nature of the case.
Seriously, this set is knackered, and it is supposed to be OK because "loads of them are knackered". I have to say that mine turned up undamaged from Book Depository, so they didn't all get bumped in the post!
"A very hard to find set, let alone one with the publishers slipcase."
No, it isn't hard to find. Without the slipcase these are two-a-penny and available cheaply. The slipcased set is still available new, given that this is not the original version of this boxed set. Try Book Depository (USD 224 inc. shipping), Amazon ($241), tolkien.co.uk (RRP GBP 180).
It has not split the seams of the case or anything more than wrinkled the rear boards of the book
As per the pictures, the case and first volume are toast from a collectabilty perspective. There are genuinely two near fine volumes there, plus a slipcase and single volume that are fit for the bin. I understand that seriously damaged books can have value to collectors, especially when genuinely rare, but these aren't rare, despite the claims that they are.
I get irked by dealers playing down faults in books, and some dealers are worse than others, especially for the "near fine, except" trick. I know the pictures are all here in this case, so nothing is being hidden, but why the need for the marketing spin?
http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/001266.htm
"History of Middle-Earth 3 Volume Box Set, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Published by Harper Collins in 2002, these are later printings, #1 is a 6th impression, #2 a 5th impression and #3 is a 5th impression".
The wording is ambiguous, but I think this at least hints that this is a 2002 set, but with those impressions, it is the reprint boxed set published a couple of years back (2012, I think), which is still available brand new, and for a lot less money. At least, this should be made clear, especially given the comments about how hard to find the set it is (which definitely implies it is the original set, as that IS hard to find).
"The 3 volumes are all in Near Fine condition, in Near Fine dustjackets, now protected in archival protectors, except for a large bump to the upper left corner of the slipcase and the same corner of book number 1 is bumped as well."
Er.... No. The 3 volumes are NOT in Near Fine condition. Volume 1 is completely knackered. You can't just add "Except for [INSERT MASSIVE DAMAGE HERE]" to the description "Near Fine", otherwise every book in the world could be classed as Near Fine with some qualifier attached.
It has not split the seams of the case or anything more than wrinkled the rear boards of the book. Unfortunately the shipping damage of this type is quite common, due to the very heavy weight of this set, and the fairly fragile nature of the case.
Seriously, this set is knackered, and it is supposed to be OK because "loads of them are knackered". I have to say that mine turned up undamaged from Book Depository, so they didn't all get bumped in the post!
"A very hard to find set, let alone one with the publishers slipcase."
No, it isn't hard to find. Without the slipcase these are two-a-penny and available cheaply. The slipcased set is still available new, given that this is not the original version of this boxed set. Try Book Depository (USD 224 inc. shipping), Amazon ($241), tolkien.co.uk (RRP GBP 180).
It has not split the seams of the case or anything more than wrinkled the rear boards of the book
As per the pictures, the case and first volume are toast from a collectabilty perspective. There are genuinely two near fine volumes there, plus a slipcase and single volume that are fit for the bin. I understand that seriously damaged books can have value to collectors, especially when genuinely rare, but these aren't rare, despite the claims that they are.
I get irked by dealers playing down faults in books, and some dealers are worse than others, especially for the "near fine, except" trick. I know the pictures are all here in this case, so nothing is being hidden, but why the need for the marketing spin?
10
1987