The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – J.R.R. Tolkien, 1955 | True First Return of the King

Few authors could claim to have as much influence on the genre of fantasy fiction as J.R.R. Tolkien, and no modern epic is quite as famous as The Lord of the Rings, presented here in its first edition. The trilogy has been labeled as Britain’s best novel of all time and is one of the best-selling works ever written. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, inhabited by hobbits, dragons, orcs, and elves, has scarcely diminished in popularity since its initial publication. With over 150 million copies sold and translations into at least 38 languages, Tolkien’s narrative of hope where ordinary acts of bravery save the world continues to resonate with readers around the world.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Lord of the Rings
• Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
• Publisher: London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
• Edition: First editions, 1955-1956
  • Fellowship of the Ring – Sixth Printing
  • The Two Towers – Fourth Printing
  • The Return of the King – First Printing; “First Published in 1955” on copyright page, lacking page signature mark on p. 49
• Binding: Original red publisher’s cloth
• Format: Octavo (8vo), three volumes
• Size: ~ 9in × 5.75in (23cm × 14.5cm)
• Collation:
  • Fellowship – 423, [1] pp
  • Two Towers – 352 pp
  • Return of the King – 416 pp
• Illustrations: Full-page map of the Shire in Fellowship; Fold-out map in Return of the King (wanting folding maps from Fellowship and Two Towers)
• Contents Include:
  • Full text of the Lord of the Rings
  • Folding map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor
• Reference(s): Hammond 99-102

Condition:

Fair. The original red cloth bindings show moderate edgewear and rubbing, with significant fraying and fading on the spines. Text blocks in Fellowship and Two Towers are tight, while Return of the King is somewhat looser but intact. The hinges are secure after repair. Fellowship and Towers wanting the folding maps. Endpapers are browned and somewhat foxed, though overall the text is clean. Each volume includes a professionally produced facsimile dust jacket, all in Excellent condition.

Why Collect This?

• First Edition copies of Tolkien’s genre-defining epic
• True First edition of Return of the King
• Folding map as drawn by Tolkien himself

Item Number: #31270