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US Two Towers jackets for 4th and 5th impressions

24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 12:08:39 AM UTC

Hi all,

does anyone here know they have a 4th or 5th impression of the Houghton Mifflin 1st edition Two Towers? If so, can you send me a picture of the upper spine of the jacket - where "The Two Towers" is printed?

Thanks much!
24 Feb, 2023 (edited)
2023-2-24 11:04:56 AM UTC

Urulókë wrote:

Hi all,

does anyone here know they have a 4th or 5th impression of the Houghton Mifflin 1st edition Two Towers? If so, can you send me a picture of the upper spine of the jacket - where "The Two Towers" is printed?

Thanks much!

You mean *3rd* impression and 5th? There is no 4th impression of the Two Towers, as far as we know today (Berelach ; Frisby).
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 11:53:06 AM UTC

Urulókë wrote:

Hi all,

does anyone here know they have a 4th or 5th impression of the Houghton Mifflin 1st edition Two Towers? If so, can you send me a picture of the upper spine of the jacket - where "The Two Towers" is printed?

Thanks much!

Here are some images of the spine off my 5th printing Two Towers. The jacket has some loss and there is glare from the mylar cover, so probably not the best photos.

(Btw, I did verify this is a 5th jacket by using the addendum in The Tolkien Collector Number 22 where Steve indicates the jackets he has seen have a small dot in the upper right of the front of the jacket.)

5090_63f8a4f7e94be.jpeg 1320X4032 px

5090_63f8a4f7e9dcc.jpeg 2593X1390 px

5090_63f8a4f7ea33e.jpeg 4030X1263 px
24 Feb, 2023 (edited)
2023-2-24 12:10:51 PM UTC
LanceFormation: is your 5th imp binding medium saturated blue or light navy blue? And what is the state of your 5th imp?
Seems that the 5th impression (depending on the state) has 2 types of binding.
The light blue also exists for the Fellowhip of the Ring 7th printing (which I own)
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 12:21:46 PM UTC

Emilien wrote:

@LanceFormation: is your 5th imp binding is medium saturated blue or light navy blue? And what is the state of your 5th imp?
Seems that the 5th impression (depending on the sate) are having 2 types of binding.
The light blue also exists for the Fellowhip of the Ring 7th printing (which I own)

Emilien I identified it a while ago as a variant 2 (fortunately I put a V2 indicator on the spine so as to remember what I had). And definitely a light navy blue (see image…5th printing (bottom book) compared to a 3rd printing)

5090_63f8abd24af57.jpeg 4032X3024 px
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 12:24:27 PM UTC
Wonderful !
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 1:16:05 PM UTC
Thanks Emilien and LanceFormation for the help. Urulókë and I were doing some spine cataloging yesterday for the 1st HMCO TT and I think this confirms our theory about the placement of "The" and when it was moved.
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 2:27:32 PM UTC
If this could be useful, here are a pictures of my copies :
bottom : 3rd impression variant/A
top : 6th impression

4888_63f8c94c3bcaa.jpg 4128X2322 px
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 2:40:00 PM UTC
So “The” moved on the dust-jacket spine between the 3rd and the 5th US Two Towers printings? (Where is that 4th printing ?)
24 Feb, 2023
2023-2-24 3:35:28 PM UTC
The registration (alignment) of the title text and the background art did change, yes. Twice!

Continuing my research before I write this up - anyone have a 10th impression TT jacket as well? Chad has one but I want some additional copies to confirm his.
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