We recently saw these up for auction - back on the market from Lucius Books

Tolkien, J. R. R.: THE LORD OF THE RINGS, being The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King. London: George Allen and Unwin. 1962

First edition, twelfth, ninth and ninth impressions. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. Three volumes. Original red cloth, in dustwrappers. A superb FINE set, the cloth of each volume bright and unfaded and the bindings square and tight. The contents are beautifully clean throughout, the top stain remaining deep red. All three maps are present to the rear and in FINE condition. Each volume is signed by Tolkien in black ink on the title page. Complete with the original dustwrappers. Fellowship has a short tear with associated creasing to the bottom right corner of upper panel otherwise all three dustwrappers are in VERY GOOD or better condition, with only light rubbing and a few scuffs and nicks to the extremities. None of dustwrappers are price-clipped (21s net to the front flap). A superb signed set of one of the greatest works of 20th century fantasy fiction, with an exceptional provenance.

£12,500

From the library of Rayner Unwin (Chairman of George, Allen and Unwin). Rayner Unwin started working for the family firm in 1951, and the following year he obtained the manuscript for Lord of the Rings from Tolkien (whose negotiations with Collins had fallen through). He found it to be a work of genius and cabled his father (Sir Stanley Unwin, founder of Allen and Unwin) a recommendation for publication, with the caveat that it might well make a loss. His father famously, and fortuitously, replied "If you believe it is a work of genius, then you may lose a thousand pounds."

http://www.luciusbooks.com/shop/moder ... s-the-return-of-the-king/