I scanned through most of this thread and didn't see an answer, so forgive me if it has already been addressed.

One thing that has kept me from jumping on previous 1-volume LotR editions is ergonomics, but especially wear and tear on the spine. I have seen the (paper?) spine of the 60th anniversary edition, for example, creases after being read. Is a leather spine more resilient to this type of wear?

Secondly and unrelated, do we have an idea of how many illustrations will be in this edition vs. the Alan Lee editions?

Caudimordax wrote:

I scanned through most of this thread and didn't see an answer, so forgive me if it has already been addressed.

One thing that has kept me from jumping on previous 1-volume LotR editions is ergonomics, but especially wear and tear on the spine. I have seen the (paper?) spine of the 60th anniversary edition, for example, creases after being read. Is a leather spine more resilient to this type of wear?

Secondly and unrelated, do we have an idea of how many illustrations will be in this edition vs. the Alan Lee editions?

Honestly, hard to say with regards to wear and durability. Really depends on the quality of the implementation. I wouldn't have especially high hopes for durability of either edition - but equally the likelihood of this ever being a reading copy for me (beyond flicking through and enjoying the illustrations) means it probably doesn't matter that much.

Caudimordax wrote:

Secondly and unrelated, do we have an idea of how many illustrations will be in this edition vs. the Alan Lee editions?

From the publishers description

This one-volume deluxe slipcased edition contains the complete text, fully corrected and reset, which is printed in red and black and features, for the very first time, thirty colour illustrations, maps and sketches drawn by Tolkien himself as he composed this epic work.

The Alan Lee illustrated editions usually contains fifty illustrations.

Thanks guys. I may wait and see on this one.

This was posted on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/ ... _new_illustrated_edition/

Our production have advised us with the below. I hope this helps you :-

For the English edition, the boards under the jacket are black, with the Eye of Sauron embossed on the front, visible through a circular die-cut in the jacket. The pages are red on all three sides, with the ring inscription on one edge. There is no slipcase, but there is a slipcased deluxe edition, which also has gilded page edges rather than red

Wordery - Another UK company that offers free world-wide shipping. Has anybody here ever bought from them?

Deluxe https://wordery.com/the-lord-of-the-ri ... r-r-tolkien-9780008471293
Trade https://wordery.com/the-lord-of-the-ri ... 4LjY0MjI3NDU3OmM2NGViM2Ji

Yes, I've bought from them many times. They list on Ebay too. Don't recall them packaging anything any better than anyone else, if I'm being honest.

For those interested, the deluxe edition is currently 44% off on Bookdepository (needs an IP address based in Europe).
I was able to pre-order mine for 92 EUR.

I wonder why I get only 29% discount...based in Italy...

Thanks for hint, but what country are you in exactly, because random EU locations give 29% only.