I've just started a survey regarding this edition, especially for the *unsigned copies*.
To my knowledge at the moment, the highest number I found is copy #280 and that's the one which is offered in auction on ebay at the moment. If this is recognized, it could make this copy a bit special, despite its very faded spine
Wayne Hammond pointed out that not all copies were bound, even with some numbers between #200 and #300 reallocated to be signed among the first 100 copies. Wayne explained this [Please correct me if I'm wrong or if I understood incorrectly] :
You can see the fruition of his research on this thread : https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ost_id=4884#forumpost4884
Mr. Underhill : Sorry, our posts just crossed
To my knowledge at the moment, the highest number I found is copy #280 and that's the one which is offered in auction on ebay at the moment. If this is recognized, it could make this copy a bit special, despite its very faded spine
Wayne Hammond pointed out that not all copies were bound, even with some numbers between #200 and #300 reallocated to be signed among the first 100 copies. Wayne explained this [Please correct me if I'm wrong or if I understood incorrectly] :
Findegil wrote:
Different possibilities occur to me, but from the Allen & Unwin records it seems certain at least that each of the unsigned copies had a number assigned to it. There seems to have been no rhyme or reason in the selection of copies originally meant to be unsigned for conversion to signed copies, perhaps a random picking from stock. No. 99 was designated as signed all by itself, possibly by special request. Copies 245, 248, 265, 273, and 281 became nos. 71-75, nos. 290-299 became nos. 76-85, and fourteen other copies, again mostly not in sequence, became 86-98 and 100.
Wayne
You can see the fruition of his research on this thread : https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ost_id=4884#forumpost4884
Mr. Underhill : Sorry, our posts just crossed
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