Your copy of the book-plate is the same as the two that I have, one in a Standard Copy and one in Deluxe Copy, my copies were both bought directly from Waterstones on the first day of issue.

The US copies have the book-plate on the half-title page of the book (under The Children of Húrin), with Christopher's signature in the top left hand corned, Alan Lee signed in the bottom right corner.

It was intended that the same thing happen at the UK Launch, so again Christopher's signature is in the top left hand corner, in pretty much the same place on both my copies. Waterstone's staff stuck in the stickers on the day, which is how they got into Deluxe Books as well as Trade Editions and I suspect that they were meant to stick them onto the half-title Page like the US copies, but they did not. All UK copies are stuck on the grey end-paper at the very start of the book, round about in the middle of the page.

Alan Lee also signed some of the book-plates, but I asked him to sign in his customary signing position under and too the right of "Illustrated by Alan Lee" on the title page. You don't mention Alan's signature but it should also be signed by him, either on the book-plate or title page as he signed every copy with a book-plate.

Your description of the book-plate corresponds with both of mine, the fake bookplates were scanned or photocopied and as such are less clear. The signature in particular is a very sharp black ink signature in the real book-plates and is not the same when copied.

Andrew

>I find this book impossible to get hold of. In fact I think they only printed 5 copies to tease collectors like me

>It's was the hardest book to find in my collection. It becamse a kind of holy grail, as it took me several years to find a copy. If I hadn't seen a picture of it, I wouldn't have believed it existed! When I did find it, I was lucky enough to get an unread copy in near perfect condition. It cost 40 pounds, which was seemed fair given its rarity. I would love to know how many copies were printed.

They do exist, I have just got a copy from eBay, wish it only cost £40 though

Does anyone know how many of this edition was printed?

This is the link to Doug's Blog

Doug Adams Blog

It is also possible to get the hard-to-find 1992 HC Unfinished Tales that matches UK HoME rather well (apart from the JRRT on the spine)...


Stu

I find this book impossible to get hold of. In fact I think they only printed 5 copies to tease collectors like me

I also can't lovingly look at my HOME's any more as I took Khamul's advice and turned them round so the spines are inwards. but it is a good idea, I have a 1st/4th BOLT1 and the spine has gone a horrible purple shade because of sun-damage, I really do not want this to happen to my main set.

A great place to start for Tolkien collecting is a regular on this site, Beren's, own website and in particular the section on Tolkien Collectors.

Beren's Tolkien Collectors

Hope you find some inspiration and welcome to Tolkien collecting.

Andrew