Looks relatively well made from what I can see, which is a positive -- and the purple paper works well. I wish they were bold enough to just produce a genuinely super-deluxe leather-bound unillustrated LotR in a straightforward slipcase. Would take away all the page block issues (every time I look at the regular deluxe version of this title, I dislike the paper, though that is partly the edge printing I think), and would allow for normal offset printing. Tbh, there are so many AL editions at this point, I feel there must be a market for a straightforward well made edition with no extra tat with little extra risk to HC versus this edition. Either would sell out in the current market, but one would be a product that people would still care about in 30 years time.

The late Stu wrote:

Looks relatively well made from what I can see, which is a positive -- and the purple paper works well. I wish they were bold enough to just produce a genuinely super-deluxe leather-bound unillustrated LotR in a straightforward slipcase. Would take away all the page block issues (every time I look at the regular deluxe version of this title, I dislike the paper, though that is partly the edge printing I think), and would allow for normal offset printing. Tbh, there are so many AL editions at this point). I feel there must be a market for a straightforward well made edition with no extra tat with little extra risk to HC versus this edition. Either would sell out in the current market, but one would be a product that people would still care about in 30 years time.

Agreed, would be nice to have a well made, sort of throwback GA&U/UH style set made instead of yet another Alan Lee set. I love Alan's artwork, so no shade on him...

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Agreed, would be nice to have a well made, sort of throwback GA&U/UH style set made instead of yet another Alan Lee set. I love Alan's artwork, so no shade on him...

Absolutely, Alan is a wonderful artist. But the seemingly endless edition-trickling with an extra illustration every year or two is getting a bit tired. And for me, if illustrated, the plate reproduction has the be spot on. We know that isn't going to happen with the technology and materials being employed, so a genuinely deluxe edition really needs to be just the text in order to be feasible (and that feels fitting anyway as that's fundamentally the most important bit).

Oh well, I can live in hope! In the meantime, I can go and sniff a Superdeluxe CoH (man those smell good).

It does seem like they are trying to leverage as much as they can from the Folio Society design, which did sell well. I am on the fence if I will purchase this signed limited edition, as I have the FS version and last year's HC set. I am sure they will come up with a new premium design (hopefully an homage to the first edition) for either the 75th or to coincide with the Hunt for Gollum movie in a few years.

Is there anywhere one can find a comprehensive comparison of the most recent LOTR deluxe editions released by Folio and HC, including this next one (with whatever information we have about it so far)? Thanks.

The late Stu wrote:

I feel there must be a market for a straightforward well made edition with no extra tat

I wish Everyman's Library would make a Hobbit+LOTR+Sil set. Their books are very nicely made for $20-ish. Sewn bindings, cloth covers, great paper. Not sure if that could ever happen though... different publisher.

Ah, yes, the third iteration of the folio, and the umpteenth Alan Lee version. I wonder if he will sign it? Oh, silly me. of course he will sign it! After the replica version of TH, I would rather have a replica of the first first of The LotR. Now THAT would be a Special edition. But I hate myself for still kinda sorta wanting to buy this Barney the purple dinosaur edition

It does have a rather Barney-ish hue, haha.

Eagerly awaiting more news on this :)

Agreed: through the newsletter we sign up for to get updates on this.