I'm not sure what you're saying! 
B&N got ~450 (signed by CT & AL), Waterstones ~200 (signed by CT only)--as widely reported at the time (figures from David Brawn via Beren).
When you say "Once all of the UK books were sold..." --where & when are you referring to? You go on to say "they were stuck into the only available Deluxe Editions, (which got a higher price) which happened to be the US version...". In the US only HM's standard Hb had been published at launch time.
Theoretically, excepting the one or two that you refer to (that were held back; probably unofficially) & the more problematic peeling problem, the variations are fairly straightforward --are they not? Why would any bookplates have been inserted into US Deluxe editions?
Not trying to up the scarcity claim (because there were, reportedly, about 900 of these all in) but CT himself didn't have any for distribution at the time, so I doubt (as discussed above back in 2007) that The Tolkien Estate had much, if any. DB stated recently that they were all used i.e. (my interpretation) they were all distributed by HC (regardless of what then happened to them) at the time. He gave no hint or impression of staggered distribution.
The peeling is quite interesting though...
BH
B&N got ~450 (signed by CT & AL), Waterstones ~200 (signed by CT only)--as widely reported at the time (figures from David Brawn via Beren).
When you say "Once all of the UK books were sold..." --where & when are you referring to? You go on to say "they were stuck into the only available Deluxe Editions, (which got a higher price) which happened to be the US version...". In the US only HM's standard Hb had been published at launch time.
Theoretically, excepting the one or two that you refer to (that were held back; probably unofficially) & the more problematic peeling problem, the variations are fairly straightforward --are they not? Why would any bookplates have been inserted into US Deluxe editions?
Not trying to up the scarcity claim (because there were, reportedly, about 900 of these all in) but CT himself didn't have any for distribution at the time, so I doubt (as discussed above back in 2007) that The Tolkien Estate had much, if any. DB stated recently that they were all used i.e. (my interpretation) they were all distributed by HC (regardless of what then happened to them) at the time. He gave no hint or impression of staggered distribution.
The peeling is quite interesting though...
BH
Hello, All. Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread, but I wanted to run something by the forum. I recently came across a US (Houghton Mifflin) Deluxe Children of Hurin with the double signed bookplate in it. I know that from Beren's and Dunedain's posts, that some of these indeed exist. I have been comparing the images posted by Uruloke back on 1-June-07, and I believe that my copy is legitimate.
Would anyone here care to give their assessment of my copy (based on the attached photo), and can anyone make further comment on the number of known US Deluxe CoH copies that have this double signed plate in them? Thanks!
P.S. I can't remember which thread it was, but I very much agree with the recent suggestion that people begin to post actual images and screenshots, rather than links. It's quite frustrating not to be able to view all of the dead ebay links within the forum. Unfortunately, it is a lot of great reference material that essentially has been lost.
Would anyone here care to give their assessment of my copy (based on the attached photo), and can anyone make further comment on the number of known US Deluxe CoH copies that have this double signed plate in them? Thanks!
P.S. I can't remember which thread it was, but I very much agree with the recent suggestion that people begin to post actual images and screenshots, rather than links. It's quite frustrating not to be able to view all of the dead ebay links within the forum. Unfortunately, it is a lot of great reference material that essentially has been lost.
Khamul,
In my opinion, the limiting factor with any of the bookplate laden books is of authenticity of the plate, not chronology. If the signatures are real, then they are real, and that's what counts. I think that most people agree that Harper Collins did a poor job with the plates (design, distribution, forge-ability, etc.), which certainly reduces the value when compared to a flat signed/numbered edition. But we know that a few of these were inserted (originally) into U.S. Deluxe editions, and C.R.T.'s signature still has to be of some value, regardless of how it was handled along the way. I guess I just think that none of the bookplate books are extremely desirable, and while chronology might factor into value a little, it is not a big deal in this case.
My question regarding the possible number of U.S. Deluxe editions with bookplates was asked out of simple curiosity. I was not trying to infer any enhanced value. I purchased this copy in its present state from a reputable seller (no, not flatsigned, or cavorite), for what I thought was a reasonable price. I have no plans to peel this plate and stick it into another book, nor would I ever do that. My book is in great condition and shows no signs of tampering to the bookplate (if there's a 'crook' in the book's past, they sure fooled me). I would think that if neither the book nor bookplate are damaged, then it's a pretty nice collectable. Will this book ever warrant high prices? Probably not. Is it less desirable than a U.K. Deluxe? Probably. But, in the end, it's a nice book that contains Alan Lee's and Christopher Tolkien's signatures, and I like it. (Trying to cut down on italics, but can't go cold turkey!)
In my opinion, the limiting factor with any of the bookplate laden books is of authenticity of the plate, not chronology. If the signatures are real, then they are real, and that's what counts. I think that most people agree that Harper Collins did a poor job with the plates (design, distribution, forge-ability, etc.), which certainly reduces the value when compared to a flat signed/numbered edition. But we know that a few of these were inserted (originally) into U.S. Deluxe editions, and C.R.T.'s signature still has to be of some value, regardless of how it was handled along the way. I guess I just think that none of the bookplate books are extremely desirable, and while chronology might factor into value a little, it is not a big deal in this case.
My question regarding the possible number of U.S. Deluxe editions with bookplates was asked out of simple curiosity. I was not trying to infer any enhanced value. I purchased this copy in its present state from a reputable seller (no, not flatsigned, or cavorite), for what I thought was a reasonable price. I have no plans to peel this plate and stick it into another book, nor would I ever do that. My book is in great condition and shows no signs of tampering to the bookplate (if there's a 'crook' in the book's past, they sure fooled me). I would think that if neither the book nor bookplate are damaged, then it's a pretty nice collectable. Will this book ever warrant high prices? Probably not. Is it less desirable than a U.K. Deluxe? Probably. But, in the end, it's a nice book that contains Alan Lee's and Christopher Tolkien's signatures, and I like it. (Trying to cut down on italics, but can't go cold turkey!)
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