Any thoughts?
eBay Item #121523665803
Particularly the seller's claim that these were possibly proof copies (being originally, it's claimed, disbound)? The marginalia doesn't immediately strike me as looking like text corrections; but I ain't no expert...

BH

I have looked at the pictures and can not find any evidence that they are proof copies, possibly looking at the wrong pictures, but not good as to what I can see.

The books look to have water damage from the pictures that I could find and are not in the condition that I would have considered suitable for rebinding.

I do not think these are Tolkien's comments in the margin.

I didn't think for a second think they were Tolkien's comments; the seller didn't really suggest that though, did they? That said, I'm not really sure what they're claiming to be honest.

BH

These were an odd set. Super-Deluxe copies in dust-jackets, with mismatched numbers (and no number on one volume).

I wonder if it was assembled from damaged returns or something, as the books appear quite worn where they have rubbed together.

eBay Item #121519979780

These still attract good money!


eBay Item #321617936161

Cracking price for a Pauline signed book

eBay Item #371206648386

Wow, that Old English Exodus went for a lot for an ex-library copy!

Very poor spines on the dust jackets, the red text is very faded.

eBay Item #131389762815

Trotter wrote:
Very poor spines on the dust jackets, the red text is very faded.

eBay Item #131389762815

That red pigment really is fragile (same with cars - red is the worst colour for UV resistance). That's the worst I have seen, though -- the text has almost entirely disappeared.