Hey Stu... I'm selling them for 330 GBP and there is always room for a reduction and free postal costs... I'm not listing in pounds but in euro!! Makes a big difference. And also the ones I'm selling are the first editions that were released (when there were still only 500 copies made). Back then there were no reductions and postal costs of tolkien.co.uk were sky high - think maybe do remember that time. I believe I ordered over 100 of those sets back then and have almost none left. My customers have been happy that I do ship to the US, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, you name it. Always provide perfect packaging and follow up. Anyways... I don't like to use this site to promote my business. But at first I did just make it possible for people outside the UK to get hold of the sets. It was by the way very hard to get them to ship these outside the UK back then...

Beren wrote:
Hey Stu... I'm selling them for 330 GBP and there is always room for a reduction and free postal costs... I'm not listing in pounds but in euro!! Makes a big difference. And also the ones I'm selling are the first editions that were released (when there were still only 500 copies made). Back then there were no reductions and postal costs of tolkien.co.uk were sky high - think maybe do remember that time. I believe I ordered over 100 of those sets back then and have almost none left. My customers have been happy that I do ship to the US, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, you name it. Always provide perfect packaging and follow up. Anyways... I don't like to use this site to promote my business. But at first I did just make it possible for people outside the UK to get hold of the sets. It was by the way very hard to get them to ship these outside the UK back then...

Hi Beren,

Yes, I do indeed remember the early HC postage costs (I think my first SD CoH cost 45 pounds to ship to Australia!!), and understand that you gave a valuable route for people in the US to get their mitts on these books in the early days of the release.

Are those copies that you are selling the 1/1/1/2 editions (like mine), though? My understanding is that there were never any sets issued with 1/1/1/1 because the first print of LOTR was already sold out when the set was issued?

Also, are you aware if more than 500 sets were actually made or if they just stopped mentioning the 500 set limitation on the site? Also, if there were indeed more printed, what is the difference between the first 500 and the subsequent ones?

Cheers
Stu

no indeed they are not 1/1/1/1 - some are 1/1/1/2 some 1/1/1/3 but since they are all closed in original boxes is hard to check. They originally made 500 sets, filling them up with the remainder of the deluxe editions. Since then another batch was made, so far I think that was again 500 but need to ask to be certain.

Difference will be probably that inside sit later impression - that must be it.

Beren wrote:
no indeed they are not 1/1/1/1 - some are 1/1/1/2 some 1/1/1/3 but since they are all closed in original boxes is hard to check. They originally made 500 sets, filling them up with the remainder of the deluxe editions. Since then another batch was made, so far I think that was again 500 but need to ask to be certain.

Difference will be probably that inside sit later impression - that must be it.

Thanks for that - Gotta love HC with their limited editions that are only limited right up to them printing another batch. I guess that the only volumes that could be of later editions in the second batch would be LOTR and The Hobbit as IIRC CoH and Sil only have one printing thus far anyway.

I'm still waiting to hear from HC - their customer service certainly isn't too hasty. If they won't ship to me, are there individuals or bookstores in the UK that might ship the item to me (either I could order it to them or they could order it) for a small fee (on top of the shipping costs). Obviously, I would want it to be secure on both sides and not get scammed.

Beren - I sent you an inquiry on your website and am still waiting to hear back...

sorry... will send over a reply today... Have been extremely busy in office trying to finish some projects. Got some time now and so will reply to a long list of emails that need my attention!

Karl wrote:
I'm still waiting to hear from HC - their customer service certainly isn't too hasty. If they won't ship to me, are there individuals or bookstores in the UK that might ship the item to me (either I could order it to them or they could order it) for a small fee (on top of the shipping costs). Obviously, I would want it to be secure on both sides and not get scammed.

Beren - I sent you an inquiry on your website and am still waiting to hear back...

Do you have any friends in Canada? That might work as they would - I believe - ship to Canada (for 5 pounds) and then you could get it forwarded from there. I know Canada post is a bit expensive, but it still might be your cheapest option.

Karl
Did you get a set?
One on ebay at moment you might pick up a little cheaper ?
eBay Item #190647546259

Thanks laurel. I just now saw your post, but as it turns out I was the winning bidder on that. I won it for a bit less than HC sells them (not to mention HC won't ship it to me) so I'm hoping it will arrive early next week. Shipping from the UK to the US sure ain't cheap though!

well done
good for you
it is a nice set and am sure you will enjoy it