Very Rare First US Printing of The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien in an immaculate Second State Dust Jacket. The book is in Near Fine condition with no names or bookplates. The only defects are some staining to the page ends, primarily on the top, and a moisture stain to the bottom right of the back board. The map is also in great condition at the back of the book. The boards show well and really the pictures should say all. The Fellowship of the Ring was published by Houghton Mifflin. Allen & Unwin (in the UK) had printed the pages, but they were shipped and then bound in the United States. As such, it is very rare at just 1500 copies printed. Having the year 1954 on the title page ensures that it is a first printing. The second state dust jacket is in amazing condition considering it is almost 70 years old. It is not a first state dust jacket, i.e. it doesn't have the ascender clipped on the 'd' in 'Frodo' on the tenth line of the blurb on the lower flap nor is the bottom edge of the photograph of Tolkien is cut straight across. However, the condition of the jacket more than makes up for it. At this price, it will not last long. A first printing of the first book in the Lord of the Ring series is simply a rare collector's item that you'll see listed once every few years and even then not in this condition. I am happy to provide additional pictures upon request.