The Fellowship of the Ring, Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. London: George, Allen & Unwin, 1954.
FIRST EDITION SECOND IMPRESSION IN THE ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S BINDING, WITH THE ORIGINAL FOLDOUT MAP.
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A significantly better than typical copy of the first edition second impression of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, this being one of only 2,500 copies from the second impression run, being one of the first 5,500 printed of the first part.
This copy collates as complete, including the original foldout map. This copy does lack its original dust jacket, but this copy seems to have lacked this for almost, if not all of, its entire life, as there is no offset toning to the endpapers which would indicate this, and so it seems like the original owner likely discarded the dust jacket, the sunning of the spine also being a strong indicator of this. Nevertheless, it is a much superior copy of one of the most important works of the 20th century, a book which is becoming increasingly scarce as time passes and whose value has increased hugely in the last few years.
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Size: 143 x 222 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), h.t., t.p., 423pp, 1pp., foldout map, (1)]
Original publisher's red full cloth binding, a little rubbed, but generally very presentable, some light shelf and edge wear, corners very slightly bumped. Spine sunned. Binding slightly cocked, but secure, with joints and hinges all secure, with both boards securely attached, the binding secure, and without shelf lean.
Collated as complete including the foldout map. The foldout map is original and has not been replaced, the paper possessing the correct watermarks etc. No attached bookplates, large pencil inscription to front pastedown and a few others to ffep recto and verso, including an ink gift inscription dated 13th October 1955 to ffep verso, else exceptionally clean throughout the text block. Endpapers without the offsetting typical with the continual presence of the dust jacket, indicating this has been missing for most likely the book's entire life. Lacks original dust jacket, else entirely original and complete. An excellent copy.
