Pablo wrote:

Hi all, does anyone know if HC/WM has plans to release matching versions for The Hobbit and The Silmarillion? I mean illustrated by AL and with the same spine/box aesthetics etc?

There have been no announcements but if the book sells well then I expect to see The Hobbit illustrated by Alan Lee, and possibly The Silmarillion illustrated by Ted Nasmith, but this is largely down to how the current book sells.

My HC set arrived last week. DHL seemed to try and destroy shipping box; book box safe.

Finally got my set, brought by the in-laws and I'm pleased to say that it doesn't have anything I'd classify as a fault (that I can see). First deluxe edition in a long while that I can say that about (including my last two FS super expensive editions).

I will say that the description of the spine as being "leather" is really just not true. It very obviously isn't leather - it is cloth with a nanometer or two of elastomeric coating painted on. Are there any animal products mixed into it? Maybe, but it isn't leather and HarperCollins really shouldn't be marketing it as such. I'd really love some better regulations to control the use of the word "leather" to stop these shenanigans.

Nice books, but I do wonder if the spines will peel as they age. Worth the £125 paid and not a penny more.