18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 6:00:16 PM UTC
I'm going to purchase some edition of HoME, but haven't yet decided between getting the 12 books (hardcovers) individually and getting the set of 3.
Aside from cost, are there any substantive differences I should be aware of? For example, the 3-volume set was assembled more recently; if that means it has slightly updated content, that would matter to me. Also of interest: illustrations (if one has more, or better, illustrations (if there are any to begin with)), notes, footnotes, other references etc. (I want them).
Related question: is the 12-volume set 12 volumes of history + 1 index (13 total books) or 11 volumes of history + 1 index (12 total books)?
FYI, I know there have been varying dustjacket designs for the individual hardcovers; I don't care about those and they wouldn't factor into my choice. Also, if I go the 12-volume route, I would be picking them up second-hand and not POD through tolkien.co.uk.
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 6:51:08 PM UTC
The first impressions of the UK 12 volume set all had full color frontispieces. Later impressions had those in black and white. I don't have any of the POD versions, so I don't know which they went with there - I know you said you weren't going to order POD directly, but they are also in the secondary market now too...
There are 12 volumes of History, so the Index is the 13th. The Index has only ever been issued separately in hardcover via POD. The twelve volumes each have their own Index (the 13th volume just combines and unifies those separate Indices into one). The three volume editions maintain the paginations for each of the volumes they contain, so the POD index should work with them too.
I don't think there have ever been any textual changes made to HoMe. Someone here will correct me on anything I've gotten wrong I am sure...
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 6:54:35 PM UTC
Urulöké wrote:
I don't think there have ever been any textual changes made to HoMe. Someone here will correct me on anything I've gotten wrong I am sure...
I am not aware of any textual changes to HoMe
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 9:02:50 PM UTC
I'd just go with whatever you can get cheapest, which is likely to be the three hardback volumes and the paperback version of the Index. As the others have said, the text hasn't changed (or at least I have seen this question asked in a couple of places and the answer has always come back that it remains unchanged).
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 9:37:24 PM UTC
Do the trade volumes of the three book set have the color frontispieces included? Or black and white?
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 9:45:18 PM UTC
Colour on the frontis of the first book in each volume, B/W on the subsequent books in each volume, I believe.
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 10:26:26 PM UTC
Urulöké wrote:
The three volume editions maintain the paginations for each of the volumes they contain, so the POD index should work with them too.
Stu wrote:
I'd just go with whatever you can get cheapest, which is likely to be the three hardback volumes and the paperback version of the Index.
It seems to be implied that the 3-volume edition has no index of its own – is that the case? I’d envisioned each having its own index at the end, but that was just my guess.
FYI, I’m not seeking a standalone index and would be satisfied if the 3-volume edition had its own index built in.
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 10:44:34 PM UTC
It's been a while since I looked through a three volume edition, but I do believe that each original index (one for each of the twelve books) is reproduced in the collected volumes. So Vol 1 has Lost Tales I (including an index for that book), Lost Tales II (including an index for that book), Lays (including index), Shaping (index) and Lost road (index). Vol 1 does not have an index of all five books combined - you have to know which book you are interested in, and find the index for that book in the combined volume. Make sense?
18 Apr, 2017
2017-4-18 10:52:17 PM UTC
Correct, each volume contains book/index, book/index, etc. You still need the separate volume if a combined index is desired.
The three volumes set is just the 12 volumes squished together without alteration.
19 Apr, 2017
2017-4-19 12:27:31 AM UTC
Oh interesting. Apologies for interrupting the discussion, but what was the frontispiece for each volume? It'd be nice to see images of the colour versions if anyone has them.
Stu wrote:
Colour on the frontis of the first book in each volume, B/W on the subsequent books in each volume, I believe.
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