Does anyone know what editions are being referenced in this article?

Found a reference to this on http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/9 ... ing-lord-of-the-rings.php

The bindings were subsequently exhibited at the Craftsman's Art Exhibition in May 1973. J.R.R. Tolkien visited the exhibition and saw the bindings and was very delighted. He commented to Philip Smith that at the age of eighty-one he could at last say what he liked and that indeed he liked Philips Smith's bindings very much. Tolkien even purchased a binding of The Lord of the Rings by Philip Smith at this exhibition and presented it as a gift to the Duke of Edinburgh. Philip Smith from his side stated he owes J.R.R. Tolkien an immense debt for the inspiration he gained from the reading of his works.

Any verification that Tolkien bought this and gave it to the Duke of Edinburgh?

Most of his Tolkien work is documented in THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND OTHER BOOKBINDINGS OF PHILIP SMITH. I can't remember if it says anything about Tolkien himself but there are plenty of photographs of what his bindings looked like. I have a copy of this annotated by Smith. He added the odd remark here & there and there were some signed postcards too. I'll dig it out & see if it says anything...

A copy of The Lord of the Rings bound by Smith and autographed by Tolkien was presented to the Duke of Edinburgh at the V&A exhibition on 8 May 1973 (Chronology, pp. 810-11), but there is no evidence that we know of that Tolkien himself bought it. The book and presentation would have been arranged and okayed by the palace in advance of the event. A photograph of Smith, Tolkien, the Duke, and the book at the exhibition is published in Smith's book New Directions in Bookbinding. The Duke's copy of The Lord of the Rings was borrowed for Smith's exhibition of Tolkien-related bindings at the 1992 Tolkien conference in Oxford.

Wayne & Christina

Thanks a lot for this Khamûl and Findegil, very helpful as always