The Return of the King, Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955.
AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION IN ITS ORIGINAL FIRST IMPRESSION FIRST STATE DUST JACKET!
-------------------
A remarkable copy of the true first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's Return of the King, the third and final part of The Lord of the Rings book series. This copy is particularly remarkable for being in such excellent condition - the book itself is in fine condition and the original first state dust jacket (without reviews) is VG+.
A beautiful first state copy, the dust jacket is a true example of the first impression without reviews to the rear flap. This example has the sagging/dropped text on pp.49 as required with the first impression of the text.
-------------------
Size: 147 x 229 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(3), 2pp, t.p., 1ff, 2ff, contents leaf, 1ff, 19-416, foldout map, (1)]
Original publisher's red cloth binding, very clean and bright without any dulling/sunning as typically found. There is a slight vertical crease down the spine which is almost certainly as originally published. Light shelf wear, else externally in fine to very fine condition, including the page edges which are fine, the red coloured top edge without significant fading as usually encountered, remaining bright and attractive. The binding is very slightly cocked as expected, but significantly better than the typical copy. There are no attached bookplates and no ownership inscriptions. The book is entirely free of writing throughout. There is one very small mark (5-6mm) to the final page (416) in the blank space else the text block is in very fine condition throughout, with every leaf in very fine condition, without fault. The foldout map is also in very fine condition, without fault, and is the original map as published with the book with the correct paper watermarks. The book collates as complete with all called for pages present, including the original endpapers. The book itself is one of the greatest obtainable copies of this very rare first impression of The Return of the King, for which very very few examples remain in such excellent condition as with this copy.
Dust jacket overall VG+, structurally secure without any splits to the joints etc. Front panel with some very small areas of discolouration but generally shows very well indeed, small pen mark to foot of centre design. Rear panel similar though better, near fine. Turn-in flaps near fine to fine, excellent condition indeed, in the first impression first state. Spine panel a little dulled, very slightly chipped at extremities, but generally VG/VG+. Verso of dust jacket in fine to very fine condition, showing very attractively indeed, significantly better than typically encountered.
A vastly superior example of this now very scarce first edition first impression first state in its original first state dust jacket. One of the jewels of Tolkien collecting.
