TolkienGuide.com
Powered by Collectors Since 2006
Sign In
TolkienGuide.com
Important links:

Guide to Tolkien's Letters
(Nominated for 2026 Tolkien Society Award)
-
Guide to Tolkien Calendars
-
Winner of the 2019 Tolkien Society award for Best Website

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated
197375199312
Seller: botherbys
(3013)
99.6% positive
Lymington, GB
OUT_OF_STOCK
:
Ended Apr 26, 2026 3:17:44 PM UTC
Category: Books, Comics & Magazines|Antiquarian & Collectable
Buy-It-Now:
£380.00

This listing is for a very rare and highly sought after 1960 Reader’s Union Edition of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. 

This edition, produced as a special offer for Readers Union members, was the result of the partnership between the Reader’s Union and Sir Stanley Unwin. Reluctant to print cheaper copies, as the current first edition of The Lord of the Rings was still selling so well, they agreed instead to print a very limited run of RU copies at higher than normal price. This resulted in a limited impression of each volume being printed under a shared imprint with Allen & Unwin, marking a notable entry in the publishing history of Tolkien's works. The 1960 Readers Union Edition of The Lord of the Rings was limited to only 3,000 copies, making them particularly rare, many were spoiled whilst printing. 

All three volumes are internally pretty good, with all maps neat and in place, map in FOTR has a small tear (See Images). Some light spotting to all the edges.

ROTK has the most spotting to it with quite significant spotting to endpapers and light spotting to the last couple of pages around the edge but apart from that internally free from spotting, it's all on the edges.

All slightly cocked and tops and bottoms of spines bumped.

No bookplates, owners names or any inscriptions anywhere in the books.

Overall condition is very good though.

No dust jackets. It is possible to buy facsimile jackets which would make the books more aesthetically pleasing as the artwork design on this particular set are unique and very striking.

Lots of images to go by and any questions are very welcome.

Full 100% money back guarantee so please buy with absolute confidence.

Please study all the images very carefully as they form an important part of the description.

 

Please bid/buy with absolute confidence as i have over 20 years experience selling on Ebay and am very confident in my descriptions but there is always a 100% money back guarantee on items if you are not happy with your purchase or it arrives damaged.

 

I have sent many very expensive items all over the world and pride myself in customer satisfaction. 

 

Items are always packaged extremely carefully.

 

Questions are welcomed.

 

If you receive an item from me that you feel is not satisfactory, please CONTACT ME FIRST directly via eBay’s contact member link. Please DO NOT open a “case” or report an “item not as described.” Do not leave low DSR scores, negative or neutral feedback. These actions (for reasons only the eBay overlords can dictate) hurt my seller standing and ultimately have a significant financial impact on me my ability to deliver the high level of service you expect.

If you would like to return an item or feel an item is not as described, just CONTACT ME FIRST and let me know. I will make it right every time. If you feel the need to leave anything but positive feedback and high DSR scores, CONTACT ME FIRST

 

Jump to Last
All original content © by the submitting authors. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us