By Karl

Art of the LoTR slipcase

9 Apr, 2016
2016-4-9 4:27:00 AM UTC

Perhaps this has been mentioned elsewhere, but last night I discovered that the slipcase for my HC 1st printing of Wayne & Christina's The Art of the Lord of the Rings is printed backwards. Every other slipcase I have (including the companion Hobbit Art volume) is oriented so that the front of the book is facing the same direction as the front (title side) of the slipcase. In other words, when shelved (spine out) all titles face right. Not so with this volume. I'm wondering if anyone else noticed this and whether this apparent mistake was corrected (have there been additional printings?).

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wellinghall
Home away from home

13 Apr, 2016
2016-4-13 9:43:02 AM UTC

My first printing is okay.

- wellinghall

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onthetrail
Home away from home

13 Apr, 2016
2016-4-13 10:31:17 AM UTC

Mine also sits the wrong way around to The Art of The Hobbit.

When the books are side by side with book spines showing the Hobbit has the front of the slipcase showing and Rings has the rear of the slipcase showing.

I had to replace my original Hobbit though so it is not a first printing. Rings is a first. Maybe your Hobbit is a reprint and it is that volume that is the wrong way around?

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Trotter

13 Apr, 2016
2016-4-13 4:19:34 PM UTC

My copy is the same as Karl's.

Was not aware of any convention for slipcases until now, though I do have at least one other item that is oriented the same way as The Art of Lord of The Rings

Congratulations to Wayne and Christina for winning the Best Book of 2015
from the Tolkien Society, for this fantastic book

http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/04 ... ty-awards-2016-announced/

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Stu

13 Apr, 2016
2016-4-13 11:29:28 PM UTC

I don't think there is a hard and fast convention, but single-book slipcases from publishers I have books from have the "front-facing" information on the right of the slipcase, assuming the opening is facing towards you. Multi-book slipcases (for paperback sets, etc) seem to be a bit more random, but also more often than not follow this convention.

In this case, I'd guess a minor communications cock up between publisher and printer. Obligatory moan about everything being done in China to the detriment of our own economy, etc, etc...

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Karl

14 Apr, 2016
2016-4-14 5:12:16 AM UTC

Thanks for the replies. Interesting that Wellinghall's first printing is "right." This would indicate that it was indeed "corrected." The publisher's image (see Amazon or Wayne & Christina's blog) clearly shows the titles both right-facing. It sure makes a lot more sense to me to have the slipcase mimic the book.

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Karl

14 Dec, 2016
2016-12-14 4:31:06 AM UTC

I received a 2nd printing of The Art of The LotR and its slipcase is configured backwards, just as my 1st printing is (opposite that of The Art of the Hobbit). I'm unconvinced that the correct version truly exists. Anyone want to prove me wrong with a photo?

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Stu

14 Dec, 2016
2016-12-14 5:11:15 AM UTC

Third printing is also backwards relative to the Art of The Hobbit. I figure they are all like that until I see a photo showing otherwise :)

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Morinehtar
Home away from home

16 Dec, 2016 (edited)
2016-12-16 4:40:49 AM UTC

I received my copy of this book today as I purchased it during an Amazon UK sale a few weeks back. In fact my intention was to login here to comment on this as I noticed the same issue when I put it next to The Art of The Hobbit (my copy is identical to onthetrail's).

The problem is that the images on the front and reverse of the slipcase are swapped, aka: printed on the wrong side. Of course... China :)

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Art of the LoTR slipcase

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