Khamûl wrote:

One view is that it is bad form to be pulling apart a perfectly functional book. At some point a book will (in book terms) need rebound though. The problem for really collectable books is whether even a poor example is worth preserving as-is. And, of course, publisher's bindings and other bibliographical elements may be worth preserving/documenting (for any book of interest) despite the book falling apart.

Most tolkien books aren't falling apart though, and this is the main issue with Tolkien rebinds.

I think it is also worth pointing out that bindings can often be repaired / restored without a rebind, retaining much of the "authenticity" of the book that is lost in a full rebind. It all really depends on what the book's owner wants to achieve.

I agree that there is no point rebinding a rare or collectible edition as long as it’s in good order. There is however a strong market for fine bindings and regrettably otherwise fine books are rebound to satisfy this market.

I love fine bindings and I’m a collector. Nevertheless, I would never rebind a good collectible edition, preferring to keep its originality.

A number of years ago I commissioned a LOTR “vanity rebinding “ for my own pleasure. I had the 2005 first printings of the Harper Collins fully corrected texts of the FOTR, TT and ROTK. I wanted to create the perfect readers edition of LOTR, as this was the first time we had the text fully corrected, with the leaves from the Book of Mazarbul and the Ring Tengwar in red as Tolkien wished. So I had the 3 volumes bound into one by the Chelsea Bindery, as I have long liked their work, with Tolkien’s ring device stamped on the front and spine. Cost me an arm and a leg. These editions are not collectible or rare and the only real value is in the binding. I would probably lose money if I sold it. But I won’t sell it. This is my favourite reading copy, my ultimate personal LOTR, and I love it. The binding is remarkably strong and firm, even after 7 or 8 re-readings.

I really like my rebound editions, all done by bookbinder from York in the UK, his wife did the 'sewing'.

1942 GA&U Hobbit (4th Impression)
1954 GA&U The Fellowship of the Ring (2nd Impression), The Two Towers (2nd Impression)
1955 GA&U The Return of the King (2nd Impression)
1977 GA&U Billings The Silmarillion (1st Impression)

Holy moly ? they are beautiful.

You people are wonderfully crazy ?

Some nice looking bindings there!

Wonderful!

I'll try to find some good book binders near San Francisco, since I definitely would want one of those!

Oh wow those are gorgeous! ?

I couple of years ago I commissioned a rebinding of a 1st impression of the German "Herr der Ringe" from 1969/1970. The books were in good shape but came without dj and the spines were completely faded. So I came up with the idea. I found a bookbinder nearby and we discussed my ideas. In fact it was not my idea I've seen a nice rebinding in the same style of the LotR and transferred it to my books. The leather was oasis goat leather and the paper was from an Australian artist.

Wow, these are magnificent! They look so, so good! I love the art on the spine! I really need to commission something like this, thank you for the idea!

laurin666 wrote:

I couple of years ago I commissioned a rebinding of a 1st impression of the German "Herr der Ringe" from 1969/1970. The books were in good shape but came without dj and the spines were completely faded. So I came up with the idea. I found a bookbinder nearby and we discussed my ideas. In fact it was not my idea I've seen a nice rebinding in the same style of the LotR and transferred it to my books. The leather was oasis goat leather and the paper was from an Australian artist.

At a guess, the marbled paper is by Joan Ajala. David Miller (TolkienBookshelf.com) used/uses her paper for his slipcases. Below is an example (old photograph) of one of his slipcases. The binding is by Atkinson's of Salisbury; purchased from Adrian Harrington.