UK HOME Hardbacks

The UK first printings of Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 had dyed top edges. I think all/most of the Reprints of Vols 1-4 also had dyed top edges (that is the reprints published under George Allen & Unwin). I think the dyed top edges ceased sometime around 1987 when the HOME Volumes were published under the Unwin Hyman Label.

Best of Luck putting a set of these together!!

>The UK first printings of Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 had dyed top edges. I think
>all/most of the Reprints of Vols 1-4 also had dyed top edges (that is the
>reprints published under George Allen & Unwin).

The GA&U reprints of Book of Lost Tales Part 2 were not top-stained (or at least I have a 2nd impression floating around in a box somewhere which isn't). With BoLT 1, the topstain continued at least as far as the third impression. No idea about Lays of Beleriand or Shaping of Middle-Earth as I only have 1st/1sts of these.

Stu

Thanks Stu and Remy that is very useful.

So from the comments so far

1 - Book of Lost Tales 1 dyed top until the 4th Impression on GA&U copies only.
2 - Book of Lost Tales 2 1st GA&U impression only with dyed top.
3 - Lays of Beleriand 1st Impression GA&U only.
4 - Shaping of Middle-Earth 1st Impression GA&U only.
5 - Lost Road - No copies with dyed top.

Can anyone confirm this is correct?

Can confirm point 5. There are no top-stained copies of "The Lost Road".

Stu

Sounds good. Don't know about later impressions specifically lacking particular features; but vol's 1-4 (first impressions) have dyed top page edges.

Interestingly Andy at ADCbooks states that a copy of BoLTs I 1rst/1rst passed through his hands without dye; and that this was as issued (i.e. no sign of faded dye under scrutiny with magnifying glass.) Which all sounds perfectly possible with HoME...

BH

>....Which all sounds perfectly possible with HoME...

Yes, the HoME books seem to be a law unto themselves with regards to consistency. For instance, I have two GA&U 3rd impressions of BoLT1 (which were simply extras acquired when purchasing a couple of lots of books -- and I have never gotten around to selling on). Copy 1 is printed by Mackeys and is listed as "Third impression 1984". Copy 2 - also printed by Mackeys - is listed as "Third impression 1983" (and also lists the second impression, which copy 1 does not). Given the same book, printer and publisher - this seems kind of confusing! Now I think about it, I'm also pretty sure that I have seen at least one top stained BoLT2 second impression on eBay (despite mine having no top stain).

Stu