Thornton's Bookshop (www.thorntonsbooks.co.uk) has just released Catalog #1087 [pdf] which contain some nice Tolkien editions as listed below.

[015241] TOLKIEN, J R R. Tolkien, Christopher (ed.). The History of Middle Earth. 3 Volumes on India Paper. HarperCollins, 2001, Designed to match the previous deluxe editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings this set brings together all the volumes of The History of Middle Earth into three volumes. Set in matching black slipcase, this collector's hardback is limited to 1000 copies and has been printed on fine India paper in order to bring the pages of material down to manageable-sized books. Half black leather in slip cases still in shrink wraps. ISBN for volume 2 is ISBN 10: 0007105061 - ISBN 13: 9780007105069 and for volume 3 000710507X, we can't check the other volume as they are all still shrink wrapped. £1,250.00

[F0176-B] TOLKIEN, J.J.R. The Silmarillion. One of the Folio Society's hand numbered limited edition of 1750 copies. Quarter-bound in Moroccan goatskin leather, with sides of hand-woven pure Indian silk. Illustrations drawn by Eric Fraser from original designs by Ingahild Grathmer (pseud. of the Queen of Denmark). Gilded top edges, with ribbon markers. Calligraphy on spines and slipcase by John Andrew. Slipcase bound in full Moroccan goatskin leather, with scalloped edges. (2004 ) Illustrated by Francis Mosley, printed at the Bath Press, 420 pages. Book size: 9"x 5 3/4" £275.00


[F0176] TOLKIEN, J.J.R. The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit. The Silmarillion 5 Volumes.. 2002 (2001 ?) /2004. One of the Folio Society's hand numbered limited edition of 1750 copies. Quarter-bound in Moroccan goatskin leather, with sides of hand-woven pure Indian silk. Illustrations drawn by Eric Fraser from original designs by Ingahild Grathmer (pseud. of the Queen of Denmark). Gilded top edges, with ribbon markers. Calligraphy on spines and slipcase by John Andrew. Slipcases bound in full Moroccan goatskin leather, with scalloped edges. 1328 pages in total for The Lord of the Rings. Together with The Hobbit (2003) and The Silmarillion (2004 ) Illustrated by Francis
Mosley, printed at the Bath Press. £1,250.00

Tolkien, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel]. THE LORD OF THE RINGS. 3 volumes. First edition, first Impressions. George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1954-1955 First editions, first impressions, Volume one: The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954, 424pp., + folding map in the rear. 3000 copies were printed . Volume two: The Two Towers, 1954, 353pp., + folding map in the rear. 3250 copies were printed. With the errors on pp. 111 and 350. (Hammond-Anderson p. 98) Volume three The Return of the King, 1955, 416pp., + folding map in the rear. 7000 copies were printed. With the signature mark '4' and the slipped type on page 49 and the errors on pp. 31 101 and 209 (Hammond-Anderson p. 98 ) Octavo, In a splendid new full maroon leather binding by the Temple Bindery of Oxford (Ian Barnes) 5 traditional raised bands, panelled spines double-ruled in gilt, gilt ring and eye embossed devices to the front boards, Gilt inner dentelles. 2 black leather title labels on the spines, top edges stained red. The 2 first volumes were Philip Toynbee's personal copies and he must have referred to them in his now infamous 1961 Observer "In our time" article, where a.o. he wrote: "...most of his more ardent supporters were soon beginning to sell out their shares in Professor Tolkien, and today those books have passed into a merciful oblivion." Housed in a custom-made dark red velvet lined cloth slip case. An exquisite set. With letter by previous owner David Snowdon who received the volumes 1 and 2 as a gift from Philip Toynbee in 1977. David is mentioned several times in Toynbee's book "Part of a journey" (1981) which covers a period between 1977 and 1979 when both were members of "The Barn House Community" £5,950.00

[Addenda] TOLKIEN, J.R.R. The Hobbit. Illustrated by Alan Lee. Published exclusively for Hatchard's of London in 1997 in a limited edition signed by the illustrator. Half leather in slip-case. Gilt lettering on spine. Splendid copy in new condition. numbered copy. One of only 600 issued. £375.00