He has many copies that he is selling. The one from yesterday was an ex library copyHalbarad wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
2nd GA&U Printing, facsimile jacket, clamshell.
Huh, this was marked as sold yesterday, but it was listed at $3900. The seller offered me $3500 right before it was marked as sold.
Halbarad wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
2nd GA&U Printing, facsimile jacket, clamshell.
Huh, this was marked as sold yesterday, but it was listed at $3900. The seller offered me $3500 right before it was marked as sold.
Nope, you're thinking of this listing.
https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/auctions/157641812599
Halbarad wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
2nd GA&U Printing, facsimile jacket, clamshell.
Huh, this was marked as sold yesterday, but it was listed at $3900. The seller offered me $3500 right before it was marked as sold.
Different copy. Lance had more than one. I was actually interested in buying, but he only sells within the US, unfortunately.
29 January
(edited)
2026-1-29 7:54:23 PM UTC
Edited by Mr. Underhill on 2026-1-29 7:57:08 PM UTC
2026-1-29 7:54:23 PM UTC
2nd printing.
1st/1st
29 January
(edited)
2026-1-29 8:08:29 PM UTC
Edited by LanceFormation on 2026-1-29 8:09:01 PM UTC
2026-1-29 8:08:29 PM UTC
Yep. They were two different books. One was an ex library. I should know as it was my listings.
😀
😀
29 January
(edited)
2026-1-29 10:26:28 PM UTC
Edited by Halbarad on 2026-1-29 10:26:52 PM UTC
2026-1-29 10:26:28 PM UTC
LanceFormation wrote:
Yep. They were two different books. One was an ex library. I should know as it was my listings.
😀
Oh cool!
Always nice to put an eBay store with a face! Or in this case just a name. 🙂
Mr. Underhill wrote:
Curious as to whether this price is the "new normal" or if this is an anomaly. Also, curious if prices of non-US books already in the US might be increasing due to the practical difficulties (and increased costs) of sending to the US in the Trump world (way too much hassle now from NZ, for instance, except via very expensive courier services).
The late Stu wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
Curious as to whether this price is the "new normal" or if this is an anomaly. Also, curious if prices of non-US books already in the US might be increasing due to the practical difficulties (and increased costs) of sending to the US in the Trump world (way too much hassle now from NZ, for instance, except via very expensive courier services).
For an auction or Ebay, all it takes is two interested (and adequately financed) potential buyers to make an anomaly. I can easily see prices going up for these limited release items, and more so with such continued interest in Tolkien's work.
As a new collector myself, it seems like it's probably an "anomalous" time to get into Tolkien collecting. As other new members have stated, thanks for curating this list and helping us new collectors not freak out more than is necessary!
30 January
(edited)
2026-1-30 9:48:23 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-1-30 9:49:21 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-1-30 9:50:37 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-1-30 9:50:37 PM UTC
2026-1-30 9:48:23 PM UTC
wiseSam wrote:
The late Stu wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
Curious as to whether this price is the "new normal" or if this is an anomaly. Also, curious if prices of non-US books already in the US might be increasing due to the practical difficulties (and increased costs) of sending to the US in the Trump world (way too much hassle now from NZ, for instance, except via very expensive courier services).
For an auction or Ebay, all it takes is two interested (and adequately financed) potential buyers to make an anomaly. I can easily see prices going up for these limited release items, and more so with such continued interest in Tolkien's work.
As a new collector myself, it seems like it's probably an "anomalous" time to get into Tolkien collecting. As other new members have stated, thanks for curating this list and helping us new collectors not freak out more than is necessary!
Sometimes one of those buyers can also be a shill. I never like it when I see "(private)" on the second bidder on a listing like this, though often multiple shill accounts are used to drive the price up. Not saying this is happening here, but it can never be discounted.
Obligatory statement: I have a spare NF one of these in an NF slipcase -- if anyone wants to give me close to $1,400 they can have it!!!
The late Stu wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
Curious as to whether this price is the "new normal" or if this is an anomaly. Also, curious if prices of non-US books already in the US might be increasing due to the practical difficulties (and increased costs) of sending to the US in the Trump world (way too much hassle now from NZ, for instance, except via very expensive courier services).
This is the most I've ever seen a 1st printing of this volume go for...feels like an anomaly as the buyer paid nearly twice what these have been going for over the past few years. They must have really wanted it to pay such a high price. This particular item was located in Canada, so wouldn't be helpful with your theory on US shipping costs connected to collecting here in the US, although I would definitely agree that tariffs are making already high post pandemic shipping costs unattainable for many.
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