THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Comprising The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

Second edition, first printing (the first revised edition). Three volumes. Publisher's original red cloth with gilt titles to the spines, in dustwrappers. Top edge red. Fold out map to the rear of each volume, with an additional map and a black and white illustration in 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. A very good set, the bindings square and firm with some bumping to the spine tips, the cloth, bright and fresh with light rubbing to the extremities. The contents, with a small previous owner's inscription to the bottom of the title page of volume III and a small bookseller's paper label to the bottom edge of the pastedown of volume II, are otherwise clean throughout. The folding maps are in fine condition, the red top stain is bright and without fading. There is a faint shadow of toning to the closed fore-edge of volume II. Complete with the very good rubbed, nicked and creased dustwrappers, that have some short closed tears to the spine tips and fold corners and some toning or dustiness to the rear panels. None are price-clipped (25s net to the lower front flap of each volume).

An important edition of Tolkien's masterpiece, featuring a new foreword by the author, a new dustwrapper design and Tolkien's revisions to the first edition text throughout. (Bleiler; Hammond & Anderson A5e).