Tolkien Collector's Guide
Sign In
Tolkien Collector's Guide
Important links:

Guide to Tolkien's Letters
-
Winner of the 2019 Tolkien Society award for Best Website

A valuable set of The LOTR on sale for £1,495 stolen from Worcester hospice charity shop

21 Dec, 2021 (edited)
2021-12-21 6:06:49 PM UTC

Saw this and thought it should be highlighted here.

https://www.strichards.org.uk/valuable ... st-richards-hospice-shop/

A valuable set of The Lord of the Rings on sale for £1,495 has been stolen from a hospice charity shop in Worcester. The books' dust jackets are cream with a red and black image beneath each title.

The three-volume set – which includes The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien – was taken from a locked display cabinet at the St Richard’s Hospice shop in St Swithin’s Street.

The theft took place on Sunday, December 19, at 12.33pm, and has been reported to the police.

Dan Corns, Commercial Director at St Richard’s, said: “We are saddened by the theft of these beautiful, valuable books.

“The volumes were on sale as a set for £1,495, reflecting the quality of the editions.

“The perfect addition for any collector or Tolkien enthusiast, they could also have raised a substantial amount towards our hospice care.

“For this to happen less than a week before Christmas, and during a difficult time for all in the charity sector, is especially upsetting.

“We appeal for anyone with information to contact the police, and hope the books can be returned to us.”

The hardback books feature first edition text from 1954, but were all published in 1957. They are first editions, but not first printings.

Each volume has a map of Middle Earth attached to its back cover. The books are in good condition, with some wear and tear to the dust jackets.

The copy of The Fellowship of the Ring includes an inscription on the inside cover which reads: ‘To F.W. Patterson. On his retirement 1980.’

The three books form a trilogy. The first volume is the seventh printing(1957), while the second volume is the fifth printing(1957), and the third volume is the third printing(1957).

Please contact police on 101 quoting crime reference number 22/114107/21 with any information.

10_61c2327e4aa4c.jpg 1022X627 px

10_61c2327e5662e.jpg 1048X610 px
21 Dec, 2021
2021-12-21 7:20:51 PM UTC
That's a real shame. Hopefully they are recovered soon.

We'll have to keep an eye out on 2nd Hand Markets for this set.
21 Dec, 2021
2021-12-21 8:18:39 PM UTC
I think the inscription is worth keeping an eye out for.

The copy of The Fellowship of the Ring includes an inscription on the inside cover which reads: ‘To F.W. Patterson. On his retirement 1980.’

10_61c2369f4dc7d.jpg 768X1024 px
30 Dec, 2021 (edited)
2021-12-30 5:55:40 PM UTC
Good news.

Dan Corns, Commercial Director at St Richard’s, said: “While saddened by the theft of these beautiful, valuable books, we’ve been heartened by the response from others sharing our story and willing the items to be returned to us.

“Now – in the most wonderful of plot twists – the books were returned to a shelf in the store on Wednesday 29 December. On sale for £1,495, the trilogy will raise a substantial amount towards our hospice care here in Worcestershire.

“We’re sure this was only possible thanks to the power of community and thank all our incredible supporters for raising awareness of our appeal and bringing the books back to us.”

While now safely secured out of sight, anyone interested in buying the book trilogy should speak to a member of the St Swithin’s Street shop team.

https://www.strichards.org.uk/stolen-books-returned/
30 Dec, 2021
2021-12-30 6:16:06 PM UTC
Brilliant!
6 Jan, 2022
2022-1-6 1:24:21 PM UTC
and they have sold the books.

Following a hospice appeal asking for their safe return, which was shared hundreds of times across social media, the books were returned to a shelf in the store on Wednesday, December 29.

The books were on sale for £1,495 and as soon as they were available to buy again, they were snapped up by a Saudi-based businessman and long-time Tolkien fan.

Martin Clark, whose family live in the UK, said: “I have been a big Tolkien fan for some 45 years and wanting a set of these books for some time.

“Having seen the BBC coverage on the loss and return of the books, I thought that here’s a set which has a bit of a story behind it and I am very happy to support a worthwhile charity.”

Dan Corns, Commercial Director at St Richard’s, said: “This is a happy ending to the tale and we’re thrilled that these beautiful books have gone to an owner who will really treasure them.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/1 ... -hospice-lord-rings-books
Jump to Last
All original content ©2024 by the submitting authors. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us