4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:07:12 PM UTC
OK this is meant to be a bit of light-hearted fun, just to see the range of ideas that come up. I have around £100 to spend on my next Tolkien purchase. Imagine yourself without any of the books you own, and tell me what YOU think I should spend my £100 on.
Currently I am thinking a later edition of the 1969 deluxe bible paper LOTR and the 2004 deluxe Hobbit.
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:32:36 PM UTC
Yip. There was a 1972 deluxe 2nd imp. up on eBay, opening at £59 or something. Oxfam it was. Think they would happily take £100! Get something old...
BH
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:33:30 PM UTC
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:41:13 PM UTC
Not for that price you don't!
What about an early impression of
The Hobbit, if you can find one. You could probably get a 2nd edition from the 60's in decent condition for under £100 no problem. Or try & pick up a
LotRs 2nd/1st set?
BH
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:42:34 PM UTC
Poems and stories went unsold for £30 the other day, so Im not paying £100 for it!
Old stuff does appeal to me, but the question is what to go for first!
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:47:01 PM UTC
Your pretty safe with Hobbit's & LotRs. £100 is not a bad amount to have to spend. You'll not get early editions of these in F/F or anything, but you'll pick up some nice copies that you'll enjoy owning I think...
BH
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:50:41 PM UTC
Oh well; seems I'm not up on prices these days, so take no notice of me - but you do need a copy of Poems and Stories anyway, for whatever price you can get it.
As for a LotR 2nd ed. 1st imp - I saw a set today in Oxford for £150.00 which I thought was a bit dear, esp. since I bought a lovely 1965 1st ed. set from the same shop last year which was priced at £130, but he took off 10% for cash.
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:55:21 PM UTC
4 Sep, 2010
2010-9-4 4:58:14 PM UTC
Clearly we have nothing better to be doing on a Saturday evening than suggesting to Bruffyboy what he should spend his money on! Now, I'm sure I had a life... where did I put it...
BH
5 Sep, 2010
2010-9-5 6:49:28 PM UTC
I'm in a dilemma here, and I'd like your opinions/advices, as I really don't know what to do.
Every year I do a summer job and from the money I earn, I take a part to spend on things I want. This year there are two things: my guitar project (I'm building an electric guitar) and some books, of course. Unfortunately, the guitar building project is (much) more expensive than I thought it would be.
With the 'book money' I have already bought a copy of the Ancrene Riwle (1955, Burns & Oates, with d/j) and it should arrive this week. I have now still got ca. £30 to spend on, but there are three 'deals' I have to choose from, and I find that quite hard.
Choice 1 is a 1st/4th of The Return of the King in good-very good condition (with dustjacket).
I want this one because: it would be my first 1st edition copy of The Lord of the Rings and it seems to have had quite a limited run (about 3200).
I doubt because: isn't it silly to buy just the third book and not having the other two? Wouldn't it give a feeling of deficiency?
Choice 2 consists of two books: Þe Liflade and te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene and Seinte Katerine (both published for the Early English Society), by S.R.T.O. d'Ardenne.
I want these two because: I am interested in Old and Middle English texts (studying English and German linguistics and philology at Ghent University). Also I am intrigued by Tolkien's more scholar writing and his 'significance' to these books. Also these books seem nice additions to my 'collection'.
I doubt because: what significance has really Tolkien had to these books? I know only this:
"D’Ardenne’s Þe Liflade ant te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene, for example, has been said to represent Tolkien’s most fully articulated thoughts on Middle English (Carpenter 140-41), and her edition of Seinte Katerine was begun with Tolkien’s collaboration. (Michael Drout, Tolkien Studies IV)
Is it really worth buying those, with regards to Tolkien's significance in them?
Choice 3 is the original 1936 publication of d'Ardenne's Þe Liflade and te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene.
I want this one because: of the reasons stated in choice two, plus it seems to me it has more of a collectable value than the E.E.S. edition (being scarcer and harder to find).
I doubt because: I'm not sure it is the same text of the E.E.S. edition. Also it costs about £40 which means I have to go beyond my budget of £30 and this for just one book. (If I go for deal 2 I have two books, including this one, though a later and less scarce edition)
Your opinions - and perhaps advices - on this somewhat annoying matter would be most helpful!
PS: If pictures would help you, please ask and I'll put some here that I received from the books' sellers.
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