Very early copy of The Fellowship of the Ring printed just one month after the first printing of the first edition of The Return of the King. This printing was performed by Purnell & Sons instead of the more common Jarrold & Sons. Purnell used slightly higher grade paper, so the book is slightly thicker than those from Jarrold & Sons printings. The trim of the map is slightly different and the stain to the top of the page block is scarlet rather than magenta in tone. The second and third printings were of low numbers and had been bound in boards slightly shorter by ~5mm than the first printing, so the 4th printing is often used to form sets with first printings of The Two Towers and the Return of the King. CONDITION: About very good. The dustjacket has creasing and some repairs to the fold between the rear panel and the rear flap and to the spine with a couple of small missing pieces being replaced with pieces of the same paper from another 1st edition LOTR dustjacket, but it is otherwise complete and original to the book and not price-clipped. The book has small faint marks to the boards, small repairs to the head and tail of its spine, faint red marks to page 290 and a crease to page 338 (see photos). The name of the original owner is handwritten on the front endpaper together with the date of acquisition 1956. However, the book is otherwise in nice condition and complete and intact with a lovely fold-out map. Will be posted in bubblewrap and cardboard layers to preserve it in the mail. The dustjacket will be protected with a removable clear cellophane wrapper when delivered.