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Thoughts on individual HoME deluxe edition books
12 Aug, 2018
2018-8-12 5:26:21 AM UTC
2018-8-12 5:26:21 AM UTC
Okay... so I’m still smarting from the fact that the latest 3-book HoME deluxe edition sticks out like a sore thumb alongside the rest of the deluxe editions in the series.
Especially after seeing the Fall of Gondolin deluxe edition (colour issues aside!) which is designed very well overall, I’m still wondering how the heck Harper Collins could have got the HoME deluxe set so wrong.
That got me thinking about the feasibility of them releasing individual deluxe editions of the 12 books that match the design/style of the existing deluxe editions.
I realize the main criticism might be that these would just be re-releases with no new content, but then again HC has been releasing numerous editions of LOTR and TH over the years in pretty much the same vein.
The individual HoME deluxe editions could match the rest, for example:
1. Matching spine design/layout.
2. Foil stamped motifs that are based on Tolkien’s heraldic devices (I doubt it would be feasible to have Alan Lee design these if the books aren’t also illustrated).
3. Acid-free paper instead of bible paper.
The individual deluxe books would also be much more convenient to hold and read.
Finally, they could also consider making these “print on demand” like the hardcover editions of the 12 HoME books.
Thoughts?
Especially after seeing the Fall of Gondolin deluxe edition (colour issues aside!) which is designed very well overall, I’m still wondering how the heck Harper Collins could have got the HoME deluxe set so wrong.
That got me thinking about the feasibility of them releasing individual deluxe editions of the 12 books that match the design/style of the existing deluxe editions.
I realize the main criticism might be that these would just be re-releases with no new content, but then again HC has been releasing numerous editions of LOTR and TH over the years in pretty much the same vein.
The individual HoME deluxe editions could match the rest, for example:
1. Matching spine design/layout.
2. Foil stamped motifs that are based on Tolkien’s heraldic devices (I doubt it would be feasible to have Alan Lee design these if the books aren’t also illustrated).
3. Acid-free paper instead of bible paper.
The individual deluxe books would also be much more convenient to hold and read.
Finally, they could also consider making these “print on demand” like the hardcover editions of the 12 HoME books.
Thoughts?
Would be nice if they did a three volume deluxe with individual slipcases and properly matching spine text, though.
This would be good too.
However, if they didn’t use bible paper, one can only imagine the size of each volume
For anyone who owns these 3 volume editions, how hard (or easy) is it to actually read them given their weight and bulkiness?
Ah good to know. I’ve got the first few in the series - but they are the John Howe cover paperbacks. I’ve refrained from buying any of the hardcover or deluxe editions as I started my series with the other deluxe editions and kept waiting for HC to release matching HoME books. Still waiting... 
The 90s editions are very nice — the ones with wraparound art, glossy finish, and raised lettering (before the “black bars” editions of 2002).
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