I finally was able to track down a 2004 SFBC leather bound LOTR

Can you give some additional info about this edition, as you are stating that you are more excited by this edition, than the UK first printing, 21st September 1937, of the Hobbit?

>Can you give some additional info about this edition

Sure. The Science Fiction Book Club has released two different "normal" hardcover editions of the LOTR. They are very common. They also released a 2004 50th anniversary leather bound edition which this is an example of. As I mentioned it shares an ISBN with the two extremely common previous instances so its nearly impossible to search for. Its actually very nicely made with real leather. Paper quality is just average though.

>as you are stating that you are more excited by this edition, than the UK first printing, 21st September 1937, of the Hobbit?

Actually I didn't say that. I said I am more excited about this than MY first edition of the Hobbit which is the second state of the American edition (I collect American editions for the most part). The reason I feel this way is that if I'm willing to spend the money, 1st editions and even 1st printings are not a challenge to find and buy at all. I could be an owner of one in 60 seconds by simply searching and buying one via the ABAA website or even ABE or Ebay if I am more risk tolerant. By contrast this took work and is effectively more scarce. It was a thrill to finally get one and took alot of effort. Perhaps after the thrill of the hunt wears off I will find more pleasure in the Hobbit (which I am also pleased as punch to own) but for the moment this is my favorite item in my collection.

I agree with you on how nice it is to get a very rare copy of a book, don't know if you saw the thread on probably the rarest printing of The Hobbit, and as you point out it is not the 1937 UK 1st, or 1938 US 1st.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... t_id=15531#forumpost15531

By the way, I assume that this is your website which looks to be a very good resource for US editions

http://jrrtolkienbibliography.com/

I agree with you on how nice it is to get a very rare copy of a book, don't know if you saw the thread on probably the rarest printing of The Hobbit, and as you point out it is not the 1937 UK 1st, or 1938 US 1st.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... t_id=15531#forumpost15531

Yeah, I saw that, thank you. I love that kind of stuff.

By the way, I assume that this is your website which looks to be a very good resource for US editions

http://jrrtolkienbibliography.com/

Yes it is mine. Thank you for the complement. Its still in its extremely early stages. It'll probably be a couple months before it even comes close to approaching "completeness". Right now I'm slogging my way through Hobbit first states. Very tedious but I'm enjoying the process immensely.