My UK edition arrived today in the U.S. via AwesomeBooks, with the Harper Collins protective box still around the books and inside the shipping box. No damage to the physical books or slipcase thankfully.

I looked at every page of all three books and didn't see any indication of the faded printing mentioned by others, although the first 100 pages or so of the first volume has very slight variations in text darkness/bolding. Not the fading issues others have raised, and I doubt I'd have noticed the difference if I weren't specifically looking for fading issues. Two pages (across all three volumes) also have slight traces of stray toner/ink marks/lines. None of these issues are really a problem for me, just noting them for others who may be interested. I'm very happy with the condition of the book.

As far as the content goes, it is absolutely spectacular. I am blown away by the work that has gone into this and so very thankful to the editors. Aside from the sheer reading pleasure, this is a work of Tolkien scholarship that will be studied for decades and open up whole new avenues of Tolkien scholarship and research.

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

The late Stu wrote:

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

Worth saying that 60K copies across two large (UK & US) markets isn't really that huge. The 1st prints will sell out, although how long it will take would just be a guess.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

The late Stu wrote:

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

Worth saying that 60K copies across two large (UK & US) markets isn't really that huge. The 1st prints will sell out, although how long it will take would just be a guess.

It is huge for books of poetry. I think context is important, here. I think they will sell out, but it isn't going to be an overnight thing.

The late Stu wrote:

Mr. Underhill wrote:

The late Stu wrote:

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

Worth saying that 60K copies across two large (UK & US) markets isn't really that huge. The 1st prints will sell out, although how long it will take would just be a guess.

It is huge for books of poetry. I think context is important, here. I think they will sell out, but it isn't going to be an overnight thing.

No, definitely not overnight. Could be quicker than we think though. It's got that seemly ever shiny Tolkien monogram on it :)

Looks like some people are getting slip cases that are largely oversized, leaving gaps when all three books are inside:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/s/O5FLiWByH8

I intepreted the text from HC as 20 000 sets. If it also includes US books it will sell out.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

The late Stu wrote:

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

Worth saying that 60K copies across two large (UK & US) markets isn't really that huge. The 1st prints will sell out, although how long it will take would just be a guess.

northman wrote:

I intepreted the text from HC as 20 000 sets. If it also includes US books it will sell out.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

The late Stu wrote:

The print-run for this was *60,000* copies (I assume that is across WM and HC).

Huge print run, so I don't think anyone need to worry about not finding a first impression!

Source: email posted on FB from HarperCollins addressing quality issues with their books.

Worth saying that 60K copies across two large (UK & US) markets isn't really that huge. The 1st prints will sell out, although how long it will take would just be a guess.

If HC is saying 60k Books (and by that they mean individual volumes) and not 60k sets. That changes some things. It’ll sell out that much more quickly. I wouldn’t wait too long you want a first printing.

Per edelweiss, print-run of WM is "Announced 1st Print: 3.5K". For comparison, the 2024 LR Deluxe Box is 25K, Collector's Edition set is 75K for each volume. Print-run of HC is not available on edelweiss.

Halbarad wrote:

Looks like some people are getting slip cases that are largely oversized, leaving gaps when all three books are inside:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/s/O5FLiWByH8

That looks like one of the ones "leaked" early from Italy where the photo showed a much too large slipcase. Odd, as we know that WM ones have been delivered with correctly fitting slipcases.