Mr. Underhill wrote:

While I did purchase both copies (as well as the German copy) I'm still holding out for a true deluxe edition (limited run, high end binding) that probably will never come.

If HC had produced a perfect Super Deluxe edition in this case, there would be nothing more to wait for

Same opinion as Mr. Underhill for me

I would add, however, that in France, it is a small publisher who is responsible for the publication of Tolkien and that I am quite envious when I see the editions of our German brothers

I just canceled my order after reading through this thread.

I couldn’t justify spending $166 plus shipping for a book which I will never read, which I am buying for its aesthetic, but which has shortcomings in exactly this aspect.

I don’t care about first edition (this is never gonna have a good resale value), and I’m sure in a few months when all the kerfuffle had died down, these will be selling cheaper on the secondary market, if not marked down by retailers themselves. Even if not, no big loss for me.

Glad for those who got this and are enjoying it though.

My thinking is if HC puts out a deluxe edition with a high tag, especially at this point with obviously no new content, they should really make it worthwhile with no quality issues; otherwise it’s just a cash grab imo. Maybe if I had more money I’d not care about all this. But I don’t, so I do.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

While I did purchase both copies (as well as the German copy) I'm still holding out for a true deluxe edition (limited run, high end binding) that probably will never come.

Joining the team !
anyway, the binding for a super Super deluxe has already took seed in the ultra limited Harper Collins edition made for HC employees to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LotR in 2004. Ithildin can testify

/speculation on

Would love to have a SP edition seeing the light of day, with genuine leather binding, and signatures of Priscilla and Baillie Tolkien, limited to 500 ex...

/speculation off

On German editions: Please note that the German Tolkien Society and both quite a few experts as well as most of my translation colleagues agree that the "original" edition by Carroux is superior to the Krege edition which was put into motion for the first film trilogy.

However, having said that, the publisher has made quite a few efforts to "even out" the worst mistakes and/ or misconceptions in Krege's translation (like changing the "Boss Frodo" back to "Master Frodo", roughly re-translated) and this was done by my colleague Lisa Kuppler who is both an excellent editor and translator as well as a Tolkien scholar in her own right.

So if you feel you would like to have a more "modern" approach (and I am using this term knowing it might be read differently in other languages) the editions of The Lord of the Rings past-2012 marked with "Neuüberarbeitung und Aktualisierung der Übersetzung von Wolfgang Krege" you could go for that as well; it is very much improved and also decent as a translation.

Please do not ever, ever go for the original Wolfgang Krege translation alone, except for shits and giggles (imho.)

Stu wrote:

Trotter wrote:

I am happy with both editions, would have been nice if different paper was used for the illustrations but for me that is a minor issue.

What I am not happy about is comments stating 'I have cancelled my pre-order' because of comments here, without people actually getting copies of the book and deciding for themselves if they like it or want to return it.

I think you need to look at it and make up your own mind about it.

But for people who are international, buying it and changing their mind is not really an option. Returning a book internationally because you just don't like it much is very expensive to the buyer. The point of reviews, opinions and photographs is to help people make an informed choice.

My opinion on the deluxe isn't yet informed (other than on the paper, 'cos its the same), but I stand by my position that for a £60 book (and depending on where you buy it from, that is what you will pay), it isn't good enough. With a good discount, it is passable. Mine cost about £37 delivered, so I'm not losing sleep over it.

But these are just opinions, and people should take all the varied opinions and make a judgement based on them. I mean, it isn't like they aren't going to be able to pick up a copy later, and for most people 1st impression doesn't mean anything at all.

I think is fair to say that we have opinions ranging from it being absolute rubbish to it being totally great. That's actually unusual, and it must mean something.

I did not mean any harm with my comment, it was a genuine reaction to the help I found in this thread, both regarding pricing and reviews.

I am also not happy about cancelling my pre-order without getting a first-hand impression, but as Stu said, for some of us that is a luxury (as returning it would be on us). For me, some of the illustrations in the pictures seemed too dark, and not being completely happy with some choices regarding the cover, it is the illustrations (and ammended text) that made this edition special.

Cancelling my pre-order gives me the chance to (hopefully) have a copy in my hands at some point, if some local store imports this un-translated version, before buying it myself in the future, if, as it has been commented here, the prices doesn't spike up, or the trade edition (for me) doesn't sold out. I mean by this that the help in this thread has probably saved me some money (which I know can seem too small a problem for some, and I understand it, but alas it is not my case) and at the same time cancelling it now is the only way for me to judge it myself before getting it (as, for me, it will most likely be the only English Lord of the Ringsedition I will acquire in a lifetime, and it was going to be my treat of the year) so everyone should be happy about my comment.Thus, once again I thank everyone for the helpful reviews and pricing information and congratulate those of you who are happy with their items.

I hope at some point in the future I will also enjoy the pleasure of owning a beautiful edition of The Lord on the Rings with the text, appearance and illustrations as close as the intention of the Professor as possible, maybe this one. I also hope this explanation eases any ill that may have originated regarding my comment.

Ilmo wrote:

Stu wrote:

Trotter wrote:

I am happy with both editions, would have been nice if different paper was used for the illustrations but for me that is a minor issue.

What I am not happy about is comments stating 'I have cancelled my pre-order' because of comments here, without people actually getting copies of the book and deciding for themselves if they like it or want to return it.

I think you need to look at it and make up your own mind about it.

But for people who are international, buying it and changing their mind is not really an option. Returning a book internationally because you just don't like it much is very expensive to the buyer. The point of reviews, opinions and photographs is to help people make an informed choice.

My opinion on the deluxe isn't yet informed (other than on the paper, 'cos its the same), but I stand by my position that for a £60 book (and depending on where you buy it from, that is what you will pay), it isn't good enough. With a good discount, it is passable. Mine cost about £37 delivered, so I'm not losing sleep over it.

But these are just opinions, and people should take all the varied opinions and make a judgement based on them. I mean, it isn't like they aren't going to be able to pick up a copy later, and for most people 1st impression doesn't mean anything at all.

I think is fair to say that we have opinions ranging from it being absolute rubbish to it being totally great. That's actually unusual, and it must mean something.

I did not mean any harm with my comment, it was a genuine reaction to the help I found in this thread, both regarding pricing and reviews.

I am also not happy about cancelling my pre-order without getting a first-hand impression, but as Stu said, for some of us that is a luxury (as returning it would be on us). For me, some of the illustrations in the pictures seemed too dark, and not being completely happy with some choices regarding the cover, it is the illustrations (and ammended text) that made this edition special.

Cancelling my pre-order gives me the chance to (hopefully) have a copy in my hands at some point, if some local store imports this un-translated version, before buying it myself in the future, if, as it has been commented here, the prices doesn't spike up, or the trade edition (for me) doesn't sold out. I mean by this that the help in this thread has probably saved me some money (which I know can seem too small a problem for some, and I understand it, but alas it is not my case) and at the same time cancelling it now is the only way for me to judge it myself before getting it (as, for me, it will most likely be the only English Lord of the Ringsedition I will acquire in a lifetime, and it was going to be my treat of the year) so everyone should be happy about my comment.Thus, once again I thank everyone for the helpful reviews and pricing information and congratulate those of you who are happy with their items.

I hope at some point in the future I will also enjoy the pleasure of owning a beautiful edition of The Lord on the Rings with the text, appearance and illustrations as close as the intention of the Professor as possible, maybe this one. I also hope this explanation eases any ill that may have originated regarding my comment.

Hi, nothing for you to apologise for. Trotter was just expressing concern that people might miss out on a book they would enjoy by relying to heavily on reviews. I don't quite agree with his position, but it all just friendly banter and everyone is aiming for the best outcomes, just with slightly different positions! If we were talking about a limited edition, I'd tend to agree with trotter (as one could always sell it if they didn't like it, but it might prove difficult to acquire later on). In this case, I imagine they will keep re-printing as long as there is demand.

Happy to hear that. I will surely lurk when newer editions drop or to find about the state of the corrected text in each one of the older editions because I have learnt a lot about their differences here. Thanks again!

I have not confirmed this information yet, but I am hearing from others that Speedyhen and Wordery are both saying that they cannot get any more copies of the deluxe unless it is reprinted.

I am trying to get more info.

Urulókë wrote:

I have not confirmed this information yet, but I am hearing from others that Speedyhen and Wordery are both saying that they cannot get any more copies of the deluxe unless it is reprinted.

I am trying to get more info.

Sounds as expected. I can't see this *not* getting reprinted, given every other deluxe edition has been (with the exception of the superdeluxes).

Would be interesting (mildly) to know how big the print run was. If I had to guess, I'd think around 10,000. I expect Trotter will find out at some point.