I may have missed something here; but has anyone any clue as to this stamp?

eBay: TOLKIEN - THE RETURN OF KING - 1966 HB RARE

BH

It has been put on at a later date.

A very expensive 'Ex Libris' book-plate.

I don't think it is from a public library, they usually rebind the book.

It's a bit of an oddity; as Trotter says, it would have been expensive to have had that done. And only on Vol.3, I see - the other two books in the set don't have it. (the motto says Fear God, Honour the King; but still..

Not my taste, what with all those flying hearts.

Yes, I thought I recognised those arms. It's Haileybury - I only knew the lower part with the book and hearts, which was the coat of arms of the original Haileybury College before the merger of 1942, it actually represents the moment at Holy Communion when then priest says "lift up your hearts". I assume that the crossed sword (Army) and anchor (Navy) came from the United Services College and the motto (1 Peter 2:17) from Imperial Service College.

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And what does the odd fellow think he is doing here? First edition my sainted aunt!

So I guess this book was given as a school prize.

As regards "The Hobbit"

RARE RED SUN VERSION (most have gold)

FIRST EDITION
FIRST PRINT
2006

THE HOBBIT
BY
J.R.R. Tolkien

I would be very interested in a copy of the common edition with a gold sun and not the rare red sun version. I don't think there has ever been a UK paperback with a gold sun, all the copies had red or white suns.

According to Deagol's site, the numbering of these books was accidentally reset, so they appear as first editions instead of impression's in the 90s.