The US trade edition (due to be officially released next week, November 2nd) has been confirmed to be a continuation of the UK printing of the standard edition (same sheets from the same printer) from Rotolito in Italy. I have heard from one or two collectors that it has started showing up in some bookstores already.

I have heard from HarperCollins that they have been asked by the Estate to look at a potential change in the book, the change has been provisionally made in the new Kindle edition, but could be reverted.

Appendix B Tale of Years

‘1409 The Witch-king of Angmar invades Arnor’ has been changed to ‘1409 The Witch-king of Angmar invades Arthedain’.

Here you go…images of the US trade. I picked up a couple copies at a Barnes&Noble in the Philadelphia area.

Note that they did have the books in house, but I had to ask to see them as they were not out on display (the books are supposedly not restricted to being sold prior to the November 2nd release date so they let me buy them.)

Lance

LanceFormation wrote:

Here you go…images of the US trade. I picked up a couple copies at a Barnes&Noble in the Philadelphia area.

Note that they did have the books in house, but I had to ask to see them as they were not out on display (the books are supposedly not restricted to being sold prior to the November 2nd release date so they let me buy them.)

Lance

Thanks for sharing! I should have mine next week. I find it interesting that HMH did not put a printing indication on the first impressions, I expect they will add that to later impressions should those get made.

I'm discussing a few logistical questions to US Harpercollins (formerly HMH) and hope to have more information to share later this week.

Urulókë wrote:

I find it interesting that HMH did not put a printing indication on the first impressions…

Exactly!

Today I received a second copy of the deluxe, and it is free of the drunken pages. In fact, I don't think I have heard of anyone getting those bad pages since the initial day or two of the release cycle. I am wondering if there were just a few kinks in the production process early on that quickly got worked out. In any event, I am still slogging through the exchange process for my bum copy, and once that is done will figure out what to do with my extra. Overall, I think the deluxe deserves a 9/10 - design choices that are annoying others I don't mind. This is certainly a polarizing edition, though! At this point, I think if you like what you see in pictures, then you will like the book when you get it. I wouldn't hold off just because of production flaws, those seem to be fading quickly, and sellers/HC are responding to those initial issues.

I also received the German edition of this release at the same time. I must say, the paper quality is fantastic, it is so smooth and feels (dare I say) sumptuous. The edition is slightly larger than the US/UK, and the illustrations and text are all on the same paper type/colour. I think they did a fantastic job, and I love the slipcase too. 10/10. I wasn't planning on getting this, but the extra large maps (one in English, one in German) tipped me over.

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Urulókë wrote:

Today I received a second copy of the deluxe, and it is free of the drunken pages. In fact, I don't think I have heard of anyone getting those bad pages since the initial day or two of the release cycle. I am wondering if there were just a few kinks in the production process early on that quickly got worked out. In any event, I am still slogging through the exchange process for my bum copy, and once that is done will figure out what to do with my extra. Overall, I think the deluxe deserves a 9/10 - design choices that are annoying others I don't mind. This is certainly a polarizing edition, though! At this point, I think if you like what you see in pictures, then you will like the book when you get it. I wouldn't hold off just because of production flaws, those seem to be fading quickly, and sellers/HC are responding to those initial issues.

I also received the German edition of this release at the same time. I must say, the paper quality is fantastic, it is so smooth and feels (dare I say) sumptuous. The edition is slightly larger than the US/UK, and the illustrations and text are all on the same paper type/colour. I think they did a fantastic job, and I love the slipcase too. 10/10. I wasn't planning on getting this, but the extra large maps (one in English, one in German) tipped me over.

It is great to hear that your second copy hasn't got the various production faults. Definitely seems like maybe an early batch of the books had all those problems, as I definitely haven't heard much chatter since the first few days. I'm expecting my copy fairly soon, which will be an early (April) pre-order but not an especially early dispatch, so fingers crossed, as I don't think exchange will be an option at this point.

I think your extra has utility as a shelf-ornament, but probably not as a book. To be fair, 99% of these will be used as shelf ornaments (including mine), so...

I've been on the fence about ordering the German edition, but I'm definitely tending towards it, especially given it sounds like it has nice paper (and I like German as a language -- though my competence is middling at best)

Urulókë wrote:

I also received the German edition of this release at the same time. I must say, the paper quality is fantastic, it is so smooth and feels (dare I say) sumptuous. The edition is slightly larger than the US/UK, and the illustrations and text are all on the same paper type/colour. I think they did a fantastic job, and I love the slipcase too. 10/10. I wasn't planning on getting this, but the extra large maps (one in English, one in German) tipped me over.

Glad you decided to pull the trigger on the German edition and pleased to hear about the paper quality. Mine is still in transit, so after your description and LanceFormation's pics, I am happy I ordered.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Urulókë wrote:

I also received the German edition of this release at the same time. I must say, the paper quality is fantastic, it is so smooth and feels (dare I say) sumptuous. The edition is slightly larger than the US/UK, and the illustrations and text are all on the same paper type/colour. I think they did a fantastic job, and I love the slipcase too. 10/10. I wasn't planning on getting this, but the extra large maps (one in English, one in German) tipped me over.

Glad you decided to pull the trigger on the German edition and pleased to hear about the paper quality. Mine is still in transit, so after your description and LanceFormation's pics, I am happy I ordered.

Where did you order from?