The Fellowship of the Ring. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954. Second impression (December 1954), 8vo, map, original red cloth gilt, a little darkening and dampstaining to dust-jacket; The Two Towers. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955. Second impression, 8vo, map, original red cloth gilt, dust-jacket slightly dampstained also very slightly affecting a couple of rear leaves, dust-jacket spine darkened; The Return of the King. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955. First edition, 8vo, original red cloth gilt, dust-jacket with some minor dampstaining, spine darkened (3)
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000 (not including buyer's premium of 25%) [Update] - Sold for £3,250 (including buyer's premium)
Also, here's a Return of the King 1st,1st that sold for $950 in April of this year:
All this to say, with some work, I think a set like that could have been found for less. If you take these two copies and combine the cost with that Fellowship you posted above for about $950, you are only looking at about $2,500. I think a comparable set to the one in the auction could be found for $3,000 with some patience and work--maybe even less with a bit of luck. But not everyone enjoys the "hunt"...
Of course, I don't see the point of 1st, 2nds in my collecting endeavors; I think I'd rather have a 1st, 1st without a DJ.
352pp. 8vo. Original cloth, in rubbed dustwrapper, neat tape repair to backstrip, lacks some text. Coloured folding map in fine condition. Offsetting to endpapers. A very good copy. Second impression. Bookseller Inventory # 137803
I wonder how much text is missing... Certainly not a desirable copy at anywhere near that price!
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