Ah yes. That makes sense!

The late Stu wrote:

Foxrook wrote:

If one doesnt log-in to harper collins and just purchases as a guest, it seems you could order more than one?(note: i have not tried myself and do not necessarily condone doing so. Just an observation)

The one-per-person rule is easily and obviously circumvented. HarperCollins just want to sell the books. The ‘one-per-person’ is just marketing to create FOMO.

Two more with significant mark up

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The Lord of the Rings Signed Limited to 1000 Edition HarperCollins JRR Tolkien

357864531667

Seller: crro4891

(411)

Buy-It-Now:

£973.84

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The Lord of the Rings Signed Limited to 1000 Edition Harper Collins JRR Tolkien

136708128192

Seller: jenniswiss98

(211)

Buy-It-Now:

£950.00

I am about to go to bed, but as of around 01:25 CET (about 12 hours since purchase), a little less than 300 (296) have been listed as recently sold (keeping in mind the limitations with this metric). This is both surprising (comparing to the two Folio releases) and also not (as the interest for this edition has been lukeward in the collector community).

If I were to summarize the day for me, I am happy that I noticed the early release of the ability to add to basket and buy even though it turned out not to be crucial. Although it was quite expensive, somewhat similar to the previous deluxe edition (blue back from 2024, 9780008669430) and did not have that many new or earthshattering features, I am relatively content with my purchase.

I did not have a limited edition already and never had any new books with a verified Alan Lee signature bought directly from a publisher. I love his art work and cannot think of any other modern fantasy art that I have had a stronger emotional reaction to. I am also warming up to the clamshell box. It has a nice inner drawing and will protect the books all around from sun and dust. I feel that many standard boxes that I have gotten are easily damaged (to the point that I always add a cloth gift bag to protect against transport whenever possible).

Although I am sure that Harper Collins will release more Tolkien books in the future, I would probably experience a life-long regret if this had been the last limited edition signed by Alan Lee as it is a few years left to the next 5 year increment anniversary (presumably 2029 at which point he would be 82). Although I know some collectors are becoming a bit disillusioned and suspecting that HarperCollins will try to milk deluxe editions as often as possible (not necessary an incorrect analysis), I did not feel comfortable with taking that risk.

In the end, regret minimization became my guiding light in my decision to purchase this item, rather than any standard rational consideration of strengths of the product versus price. At the end of the day, I think I am going to be okay with that.

EmilK, Likewise I have no limited edition versions of this book. I didn’t fancy the Folio version for a few reasons, size, price and materials, I don’t want a bookshelf full of dead animals. The Old Guard collectors may scoff and look with disdain ( just look at reddit, Facebook and even here ) at this edition, this is clearly not aimed at the high end collector. It’s a very nice looking edition of my favourite book signed by my favourite artist. It’s a no brainer to me.
Tolkien readers/collectors aren’t a fixed set, the old guys possibly have everything they would want, but like any fandom, it renews. The more new folk buying new Tolkien editions the better.

I would have preferred this edition to the ridiculously over-sized Folio one TBH (that also has a very flimsy and therefore useless slip case). Alas, I bought the Folio edition and am stuck with it, so cannot get this one as well. While I could sell the Folio one, it just isnt worth the hassle for me.

Lake Town Geezer wrote:

I would have preferred this edition to the ridiculously over-sized Folio one TBH (that also has a very flimsy and therefore useless slip case). Alas, I bought the Folio edition and am stuck with it, so cannot get this one as well. While I could sell the Folio one, it just isnt worth the hassle for me.

I would gladly buy it off you, love the folio edition. Love this new edition as well. Why can't you get this new edition if I may ask?

Gerontius Took wrote:

EmilK, Likewise I have no limited edition versions of this book. I didn’t fancy the Folio version for a few reasons, size, price and materials, I don’t want a bookshelf full of dead animals. The Old Guard collectors may scoff and look with disdain ( just look at reddit, Facebook and even here ) at this edition, this is clearly not aimed at the high end collector. It’s a very nice looking edition of my favourite book signed by my favourite artist. It’s a no brainer to me.
Tolkien readers/collectors aren’t a fixed set, the old guys possibly have everything they would want, but like any fandom, it renews. The more new folk buying new Tolkien editions the better.

I find the idea that a set costing £750 is not ‘aimed at the high end collector’ very odd. It is the second most expensive English Language Tolkien LE that I’m aware of.

Most Tolkien Limited Edition books aren’t amazingly fancy, historically, but they also haven’t retailed at super high prices. This is a new phenomenon from the last couple of years, not a historic norm.

The late Stu wrote:

Gerontius Took wrote:

EmilK, Likewise I have no limited edition versions of this book. I didn’t fancy the Folio version for a few reasons, size, price and materials, I don’t want a bookshelf full of dead animals. The Old Guard collectors may scoff and look with disdain ( just look at reddit, Facebook and even here ) at this edition, this is clearly not aimed at the high end collector. It’s a very nice looking edition of my favourite book signed by my favourite artist. It’s a no brainer to me.
Tolkien readers/collectors aren’t a fixed set, the old guys possibly have everything they would want, but like any fandom, it renews. The more new folk buying new Tolkien editions the better.

I find the idea that a set costing £750 is not ‘aimed at the high end collector’ very odd. It is the second most expensive English Language Tolkien LE that I’m aware of.

Most Tolkien Limited Edition books aren’t amazingly fancy, historically, but they also haven’t retailed at super high prices. This is a new phenomenon from the last couple of years, not a historic norm.

It’s not the super deluxe leather bound edition that some collectors have suggested it could be.That’s more your high end request IMHO. I agree with you on the price, I wish a couple of hundred had been shaved off. But it is what it is. I liked the look of it so I bought it.

Lake Town Geezer wrote:

I would have preferred this edition to the ridiculously over-sized Folio one TBH (that also has a very flimsy and therefore useless slip case). Alas, I bought the Folio edition and am stuck with it, so cannot get this one as well. While I could sell the Folio one, it just isnt worth the hassle for me.

Noah replied:

I would gladly buy it off you, love the folio edition. Love this new edition as well. Why can't you get this new edition if I may ask?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I would gladly sell it Noah, but it just isnt worth it for me in the sense that the time I would spend dealing with packing etc etc just isnt worth it. My sense of economy prevents me getting the new set. I just dont see the point of having both sets on the shelf - it should go to another fan (as there are only 1000 sets). I do prefer the new set though from what I have seen in photos etc. If the new set had come out before the Folio I would have preferred it for sure. People rave about the Folio LE but it is way too heavy and impractical to read, and the slip case really annoys me - I am actually afraid to handle the books at all for this reason. I know people will disagree but this is how I see it. Just being honest.

Gerontius Took wrote:

EmilK, Likewise I have no limited edition versions of this book. I didn’t fancy the Folio version for a few reasons, size, price and materials, I don’t want a bookshelf full of dead animals. The Old Guard collectors may scoff and look with disdain ( just look at reddit, Facebook and even here ) at this edition, this is clearly not aimed at the high end collector. It’s a very nice looking edition of my favourite book signed by my favourite artist. It’s a no brainer to me.
Tolkien readers/collectors aren’t a fixed set, the old guys possibly have everything they would want, but like any fandom, it renews. The more new folk buying new Tolkien editions the better.

We're on the same boat. Old collectors are often myopic, and fail to see that they are not the only ones interested in buying books from arguably the most popular fantasy author in history. Some even considered the £250 price difference between this edition and FS' to be negligible, even as HC aims this publication at the international market. I live in Brazil, £250 more would add quite a hefty R$ 2000 to the final price in our currency. Alan Lee's signature may be common in the anglosphere, but it sure as hell is a rare find down here.

It's my favorite book by my favorite author signed by my favorite artist and with a nice design to top it all off. It also comes with the benefit of not being made out of a dead animal's skin that would most certainly get obliterated in a tropical climate.