The Two Towers, Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954.
FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION IN ITS ORIGINAL FIRST IMPRESSION DUST JACKET. ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE BOOKS IN MODERN BOOK COLLECTING. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.
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TRUE FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION in its original first impression first state dust jacket. One of the most desirable books in the collecting of J.R.R. Tolkien. A beautiful copy, significantly better than typically encountered. The Two Towers was first published on the 11th of November 1954 in a print run of only 3,250 copies. This is one of the incredibly rare examples from the first print run. The book itself is in VG+ to near fine with the dust jacket in VG/VG+ condition; a genuine rarity. As far as we can trace, no copy of this has ever been auctioned on eBay before.
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Size: 150 x 229 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), 2pp, t.p., 4pp, contents leaf, 1ff, 15-352, foldout map, (1)]
Original publisher's red full cloth binding, remaining bright and attractive without loss or fading to the gilt on the spine. The binding is structurally secure with joints and hinges in fine condition. Binding very slightly cocked but stands vertically without shelf lean. Slight vertical crease to spine as typical, quite possibly as published as this is not reflected on the dust jacket. Very minor shelf wear, one corner lightly bumped. Bottom page edge in fine/very fine condition, top edge VG+, and fore-edge VG with a bit of foxing as often, not affecting the text block. No attached bookplates or ownership inscriptions, indeed the book is internally completely free of any writing/marks etc. Every leaf of the text block is in very fine condition, internally excellent, without any dog-eared leaves etc. The original foldout map is present and similarly in very fine condition, without fault. The book collates as complete with all called for pages, blanks, etc present. Endpapers lightly offset from the dust jacket as typical. Overall the book is in VG+ to near fine condition, a very superior example.
The dust jacket is original and in its first impression first state without reviews to the inside flap and with no impression references to the upper part of the left flap. A true original first state dust jacket and thus incredibly rare. The dust jacket is overall very bright and significantly better than the typical example. The dust jacket is structurally secure, the joints without splits, etc, lightly rubbed, but generally VG. The front panel is very bright with a faint crease on the left side, but shows very attractively indeed, VG+ to near fine. The spine panel is a little dulled with some chips at the extremities, but again, significantly better than typically encountered, VG. The rear panel has a few marks/areas of discolouration but remains attractive and without rips/tears; the full text of the dust jacket is legible without obfuscation, VG. The inside flaps of the dust jacket are both near fine, lightly creased at the tops as typical, but present very nicely indeed. The verso of the dust jacket is in fine condition. Overall the dust jacket is in VG to VG+ condition, a truly excellent example of a significant rarity in the world of modern book collecting and investment.
