Yes, I had made an offer before the ebay auction started and have bought it outside of ebay.

I am interested in how rare this book actually is. It should not be rare, as it went through two printings but unlike the Heritage in Literature does not turn up.

Does anyone own the second printing of this book (1970 version)?

Yes. Have a copy of the 1970 second printing.

(Sorry. This got posted numerous times - Posted from mobile phone and kept hitting submit but nothing happened - then see that it kept posting - have deleted duplicates now).

A big increase in asking price from the last time a copy of this item was on ebay.

eBay Item #191446785281

I too have a 2nd imp. 1970

Trotter wrote:
Yes, I had made an offer before the ebay auction started and have bought it outside of ebay.

I am interested in how rare this book actually is. It should not be rare, as it went through two printings but unlike the Heritage in Literature does not turn up.

Does anyone own the second printing of this book (1970 version)?

I'd imagine that due to the nature of the book's target audience, a lot became tatty/dirty and were just tossed out. primary school kids tear things, and cover them in snot and paint. I expect there are a few out there in people's attics, though, and they will turn up as kids toss out their parents stuff.

That said, I don't think in this case that rare = hugely valuable, as there isn't anything specifically notable about it (other than the cover, of course), and there can't be that many completist collectors out there that NEED to have a copy. I thought the $500 eBay start price was steep, and I don't think it would have had any bidders at that level.

Any thoughts?
eBay Item #121523665803
Particularly the seller's claim that these were possibly proof copies (being originally, it's claimed, disbound)? The marginalia doesn't immediately strike me as looking like text corrections; but I ain't no expert...

BH

I have looked at the pictures and can not find any evidence that they are proof copies, possibly looking at the wrong pictures, but not good as to what I can see.

The books look to have water damage from the pictures that I could find and are not in the condition that I would have considered suitable for rebinding.

I do not think these are Tolkien's comments in the margin.

I didn't think for a second think they were Tolkien's comments; the seller didn't really suggest that though, did they? That said, I'm not really sure what they're claiming to be honest.

BH

These were an odd set. Super-Deluxe copies in dust-jackets, with mismatched numbers (and no number on one volume).

I wonder if it was assembled from damaged returns or something, as the books appear quite worn where they have rubbed together.

eBay Item #121519979780