I think it is essentially a re-issue, but the Hammond & Scull companion volume has been updated (perhaps Findegil can confirm that?)

The picture of the boxed set on HarperCollins' site is of the one issued in 2005, so one shouldn't judge by that. The new (further corrected and augmented) hardback edition of our Reader's Companion will have a slightly different dust-jacket. As for The Lord of the Rings, our understanding is that the new three-volume edition will be a reprint of the existing text, not reset, and without further corrections (though this last remains to be seen). The new one-volume edition, however, will be reset and will include at least some of the corrections we've listed in our online addenda and corrigenda; this will have new pagination, with the index revised to suit. We have not had direct involvement with the reset edition except to comment on a further correction (which was approved by Christopher Tolkien), and to revise our 'Note on the Anniversary Edition'; and we've not been informed of any correction or emendation beyond this, which is not to say that there has been none, and as Urulöké remarks, resetting often produces new errors. We'll know better when we get copies.

Wayne & Christina

Findegil wrote:

I think it is essentially a re-issue, but the Hammond & Scull companion volume has been updated (perhaps Findegil can confirm that?)

The picture of the boxed set on HarperCollins' site is of the one issued in 2005, so one shouldn't judge by that. The new (further corrected and augmented) hardback edition of our Reader's Companion will have a slightly different dust-jacket. As for The Lord of the Rings, our understanding is that the new three-volume edition will be a reprint of the existing text, not reset, and without further corrections (though this last remains to be seen). The new one-volume edition, however, will be reset and will include at least some of the corrections we've listed in our online addenda and corrigenda; this will have new pagination, with the index revised to suit. We have not had direct involvement with the reset edition except to comment on a further correction (which was approved by Christopher Tolkien), and to revise our 'Note on the Anniversary Edition'; and we've not been informed of any correction or emendation beyond this, which is not to say that there has been none, and as Urulöké remarks, resetting often produces new errors. We'll know better when we get copies.

Wayne & Christina

Thanks very much for the information.

Thanks for the information, guys.

Speedy Hen seem to have an image of the single volume edition with the plastic cover, by the way.

http://www.speedyhen.com/StoreFront/Product/J-R-R-Tolkien/The-Lord-of-the-Rings/14802369

Thanks Turambar!

There is a slightly larger image available on the official Tolkien store now as well:

http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780 ... 46/The+Lord+of+the+Rings+

Urulöké wrote:
Thanks Turambar!

There is a slightly larger image available on the official Tolkien store now as well:

http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780 ... 46/The+Lord+of+the+Rings+

The book looks really nice (the bright blue goes well with the illustrated boards). The slipcase, however, just looks like cheap plastic packaging - which is exactly what it is. Pity they couldn't have done a nice durable thick cardboard slipcase, rather than taking the el-cheapo option.

Findegil wrote:
The new (further corrected and augmented) hardback edition of our Reader's Companion will have a slightly different dust-jacket. As for The Lord of the Rings, our understanding is that the new three-volume edition will be a reprint of the existing text, not reset, and without further corrections (though this last remains to be seen).

I asked HarperCollins about the box set, and they also gave some information about the 60th Anniversary Alan Lee book.

"We are awaiting finished copies of the new boxed sets so that we can update the photograph. The Companion jacket has been redone in light grey with a red ring – we were never entirely happy with just how dark the original brown and purple jacket turned out – and the three individual books have had their ‘50th Anniversary edition’ strapline removed from the front and the copper foil has been replaced with tasteful colours which tone in with the artwork. It’s a subtle difference, but one that I hope will be regarded as an improvement.

The text has been corrected – I believe Wayne and Christina have listed the latest changes on the website. They are, as one would expect, pretty minor after the overhaul of ten years ago, and I don’t think any of them fall in The Two Towers. This text has also been used for the new single volume The Lord of the Rings illustrated edition by Alan Lee, for which all of Alan’s pictures have also been newly scanned from the original paintings. All the previous illustrated editions have been produced using intermediate photographic transparencies, and the new scans provided by Alan for this book reveal more detail and a more accurate colour match to the originals."

Ordering both of these today

That email quote isn't exactly that clear...

Is it definitely saying that the text for both the single vol. LR and the LR/RC four vol. set (we know Reader's Companion has been updated) is reset & updated?

I'm ordering direct from SpeedyHen as their one vol. price is very, very low; less than half the HC/retail price. That said, I can't find any prices (although I ain't looked very hard!) less than £80 for the LR/RC set. Not ordering this set at that kind of price; at least not right now.

BH

My reading of the email is that both the box set (Three volume editions and Readers Companion) and the one volume Alan Lee 60th Anniversary Edition have been reset.

"The text has been corrected – I believe Wayne and Christina have listed the latest changes on the website. They are, as one would expect, pretty minor after the overhaul of ten years ago, and I don’t think any of them fall in The Two Towers. This text has also been used for the new single volume The Lord of the Rings illustrated edition by Alan Lee"

Khamûl wrote:
That email quote isn't exactly that clear...

Is it definitely saying that the text for both the single vol. LR and the LR/RC four vol. set (we know Reader's Companion has been updated) is reset & updated?

I'm ordering direct from SpeedyHen as their one vol. price is very, very low; less than half the HC/retail price. That said, I can't find any prices (although I ain't looked very hard!) less than £80 for the LR/RC set. Not ordering this set at that kind of price; at least not right now.

BH

Speedhen has the LOTR/RC boxed set for GBP 50.69 at the moment. Seems like a decent price. No good for me as they don't ship overseas (except for their eBay store), but looks like a very good price for UK buyers.

I could have sworn that said £80-odd yesterday. Anyway, yes --£50.69 is a great price. I see the new cover image for A Reader's Companion too.

BH