Luckyshot wrote:

So either go by pictures (when not stock) or assume it could be either? Thanks for that information. I'd love to hear "if your order this version you will get plastic", but the truth is more useful. It also means there is no reason for me to try and get a UK version (often at higher shipping costs) since they are also sold as both. Again, thank you!

I think once we have time (and editors!) to build The Guide To Tolkien Audiobooks your questions will be answerable more generally. I have had little luck getting exactly what I want when looking at stock photos, as there never seems to be consistency. I've gotten HC plastic cased sets with vastly different sizes (w x h) so they don't sit well on the shelf near each other! I think the publisher just went with whatever the printer has in stock that day, honestly.

[Edit to add] Just checked, the HarperCollins UK sets are all pretty uniform if they are plastic, and not single-CD. The American sets vary widely.