I really like them. ?

I just received a LoTR set (my birthday age) - box is in really good condition, no damage as are books but the jackets are tatty
Amusing how concepts of deluxe have changed in 60 years

Also picked up a cheap novelty Hobbit 3rd edition 1974 18th impression hardback (1966 2nd imp vs 1974 18th 'ex library' HB vs 1974 19th)

The hardback seems to have had its pages trimmed as it is smaller than the 19th. (see side by side image - textblock smaller than boards)
Where would they have got the cover assuming it was an after market library binding - seems like a lot of effort for a £0.65 book?

some recent purchases:
- a set of first printings of the norwegian second edition 1980-1981 with the edelfeldt DJs. These dont show up too often.
- the double volume Arda 1984/Arda 1985 which is kind of a must have.

So this is not the most interesting or unusual acquisition, but like many others, I feel the pain of international shipping costs when collecting, so finding something of interest in my local market (Sweden) - and at a reasonable price! - is always satisfying:

Farmer Giles of Ham, 3rd impression (1961) - cost me c. $6 plus shipping. Pretty decent condition, a couple of small tears also on the reverse of the DJ.

1961 12th Hobbit from webuybooks! (I've sold unwanted textbooks etc to them before, not sure what the original seller got for it but I got it for a reasonable price ), Inside is clean, virtually fine and feels unread

northman wrote:

some recent purchases:
- a set of first printings of the norwegian second edition 1980-1981 with the edelfeldt DJs. These dont show up too often.
- the double volume Arda 1984/Arda 1985 which is kind of a must have.

Congrats northman, those Norwegians are quite rare and the Ardas are most certainly must haves

Been making a small amount of progress on "red" spines.

Thats no easy task Trotter! And thanks MrUnderhill.

That is only the second 11th Impression I have seen without a completely faded spine. I did not even know what the spine looked like until a few weeks ago.

Congrats. That unfaded 11th is a real treasure!

I think my copy may have had something covering the spine, and when it was removed it left the white marks, but was still a great thing to do with the book

All of these books are stored in the dark now.