I have collected Tolkien on and off for the last 30 years but this last year I have added a lot of rarer items. For me there are two reasons:
1. I have a lot more money when I can’t spend it on travel, clothes and restaurants.
2. This pandemic has reignited my love for Tolkien. The books give me comfort and a sense of stability. It is an escape and a way to return to things that has always brought a sense of wonder. A first edition LOTR almost becomes a sacred relic.

I made a mistake early on buying a Clowes domestic first Sil for 60$. I have become better informed since then. But doesn’t all collectors have items that might not have been a bargain? Could it be that more people are getting into collecting and thus make rookie mistakes that is just part of a normal learning curve.

Couldn’t care less about the Amazon thing.

Khamûl wrote:

You got examples like this auction:

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First Edition The Silmarillion Tolkien 1977 George Allen & Unwin Map

114772971959

Seller: raela1

(1540)

Ended Apr 26, 2021

This item ended more than 90 days ago

Two bidders trading bids with the final high price of £62. The seller has literally said nothing about the book and has let the photographs speak for condition/edition, etc. It's unclear if this is first state Billing copy (if the bidders care); we don't know what that jacket spine looks like (conveniently not photographed); and the copy has a large P.O. signature (not what everone likes to see in their copy). Sure, it looks nice, but it's... just another Billing copy. And last year this really was just another £10-15 eBay item.

Based on the tiny bit of light reflection, I'm certain that spine is as faded as they come.. Total garbage -- a reading copy only.

One question and forgive my ignorance. Which edition is truly the first, the national or the export one? I understand that the first version of the export edition is the first commercialized print.

Roäc wrote:

I have collected Tolkien on and off for the last 30 years but this last year I have added a lot of rarer items. For me there are two reasons:
1. I have a lot more money when I can’t spend it on travel, clothes and restaurants.
2. This pandemic has reignited my love for Tolkien. The books give me comfort and a sense of stability. It is an escape and a way to return to things that has always brought a sense of wonder. A first edition LOTR almost becomes a sacred relic.

I made a mistake early on buying a Clowes domestic first Sil for 60$. I have become better informed since then. But doesn’t all collectors have items that might not have been a bargain? Could it be that more people are getting into collecting and thus make rookie mistakes that is just part of a normal learning curve.

Couldn’t care less about the Amazon thing.

I too have been collecting on and off for 15 years or so. Mostly off when my daughter was small. In the early days of my collecting when I was in college, right around the time the Jackson films came out and some years after, I didn't know anything (certainly didn't know about Tolkienguide) I just went to the used book store every so often and bought what they had. But I have really gotten back into it over the past three years or so and made an effort to educate myself and being home all the time over the past year has given me more time to do that.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying I may be part of the problem you all speak of.

Roäc wrote:

I have collected Tolkien on and off for the last 30 years but this last year I have added a lot of rarer items. For me there are two reasons:
1. I have a lot more money when I can’t spend it on travel, clothes and restaurants.
2. This pandemic has reignited my love for Tolkien. The books give me comfort and a sense of stability. It is an escape and a way to return to things that has always brought a sense of wonder. A first edition LOTR almost becomes a sacred relic.

I made a mistake early on buying a Clowes domestic first Sil for 60$. I have become better informed since then. But doesn’t all collectors have items that might not have been a bargain? Could it be that more people are getting into collecting and thus make rookie mistakes that is just part of a normal learning curve.

Couldn’t care less about the Amazon thing.

Great post! I absolutely agree with this .

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The Firm: Cardio Dance Express - J.R.R. Tolkien, Firm, DVD

224441689393

Seller: roundaboutbooks

(18361)

Ended Jun 18, 2021

This item ended more than 90 days ago

Lol!


Also,

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Family Guy, Vol. 2: Season 3 - J.R.R. Tolkien, 20th Century Fox, DVD

324594266885

Seller: roundaboutbooks

(18361)

Ended Jun 18, 2021

This item ended more than 90 days ago

Jlong wrote:

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Family Guy, Vol. 2: Season 3 - J.R.R. Tolkien, 20th Century Fox, DVD

324594266885

Seller: roundaboutbooks

(18361)

Ended Jun 18, 2021

This item ended more than 90 days ago

A rather odd thing to focus on for a Family Guy sale. It is not an entirely spurious mention though, the episode 'Sibling Rivalry' has a scene with the Eye of Sauron.

Did they really print this card?

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1 x Playing Card - 1954 J.R.R. Tolkein Publishes First Part LOTR - Six of Spades

393279575871

Seller: mrkaiser1993

(169)

Ended Jul 9, 2021

This item ended more than 90 days ago

I have one of this cards. I believes it’s part of a set of 20th century people.

You would have thought that they checked on how to spell The Professor's name.