Trotter wrote:
Super Deluxe meant full leather books, of which four editions have so far been sold, HC made an excellent Lord of the Rings Super Deluxe for contributors to the 50th Anniversary but that was not sold commercially.

Here we have them all together. I hope there will be some more of these real deluxe editions in the future. Would be nice to see a matching set of the three Great Tales in the style of CoH

Now THAT’S a true set of deluxe editions ?

These are all super deluxe editions.

The super deluxe LOTR shown was limited to a small number of editions, based on the 50th Anniversary text.

I'm working on asking HC to sell a commercial super deluxe Lord of the Rings, the same design as the limited 50th Anniversary edition, shown above, but with the 60th Anniversary Text

Super drool

Yup, was referring to the one w/ the clear slipcase. It has the slipcase, a silk ribbon marker, and a foldout frontispiece. Those are the only elements that pretty much all the deluxe editions have - though sometimes the frontispiece isn't foldout, depending on title.

Ever so slightly back on topic - HarperCollins will be making an official announcement on the Unfinished Tales edition imminently. Hopefully that will answer some of the many questions I have been asked! ?

Without a doubt! :) It may be too early for you to say (if you can say at this point) but size-wise, would it match the rest of the deluxe editions, or would it be a black sheep in that sense? I look forward to the details and specs in due time.

The full leather LotRs 2004 barely counts as a publication (in the proper sense of published) as it was not on sale to the public. Amazing seeing those five together tho'. But surely the 1-volume (1991) & 3-volume (1992) AL quarter-leather centenary copies are basically "super deluxe" editions (by HC's standards) too?

http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=1206
http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=1193

Trotter wrote:
I'm working on asking HC to sell a commercial super deluxe Lord of the Rings, the same design as the limited 50th Anniversary edition, shown above, but with the 60th Anniversary Text

I'd buy a copy like a shot. I liked the design of that LoTR from the first moment I saw it, and it has always surprised me that they didn't do a limited commercial release.

Edit: I'd be happy even with a format more closely matching the SD CoH (though I think the ultra-limited 50th LOTR works better, probably). HarperCollins did a fantastic job with that CoH. Of the officially published Super-Deluxes, IMHO the design and implementation is hands-down the best.

The "product description" section has been updated on UK Amazon. No covers revealed yet.

The standard hardback:

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the first ever illustrated edition of this collection of tales which takes readers further into the stories told in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, featuring 18 full-colour paintings depicting scenes from the First, Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth.

Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories.

The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as The Quest of Erebor, Gandalf’s lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End; the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand; and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.

Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Númenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantíri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were edited by Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father’s writings.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, this new edition features 18 stunning paintings from critically acclaimed Tolkien artists, Alan Lee, John Howe & Ted Nasmith, which reveal the three Ages of Middle-earth like never before.

It didn't mention "brand-new paintings" or any similar statements. I guess all the illustrations might just be old ones that appeared in Ted's The Silmarillion, Alan's The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and three Great Tales? As far as I know, John has also drawn a few paintings on First Age and Second Age, such as HoMe paperback (UK edition) cover art and his version of the maps of Beleriand and Numenor. Though I would definitely welcome brand-new paintings

And the "deluxe" edition:

Sumptuous, 40th anniversary collector’s edition of this collection of tales which takes readers further into the stories told in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, featuring 18 full-colour paintings depicting scenes from the First, Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth, and housed in a matching illustrated slipcase.

Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories.

The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as The Quest of Erebor, Gandalf’s lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End; the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand; and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.

Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Númenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantíri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were edited by Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father’s writings.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, this new edition features 18 stunning paintings from critically acclaimed Tolkien artists, Alan Lee, John Howe & Ted Nasmith, which reveal the three Ages of Middle-earth like never before. This special collector’s edition is printed on superior quality paper, features a unique special binding and ribbon marker and is housed in a custom-made, fully illustrated slipcase.

Doesn't sound "deluxe" to me