Emilien wrote:

The late Stu wrote:

Thanks, Emillien - that's useful. I intend to make a facsimile of the 4th state box at some point. I need to get some cloth of the correct shade. I did have some that I picked up in Canada, but I used it on a clamshell (it was only small piece).

I'd like to be able to provide accurate facsimiles of all the boxes at some point. Will involve getting some acid free craft papers, so I can make the better quality boards look worse! Also, finding any textured papers of anything close the the right shade hard (potentially impossible).

Welcome! That's a fun project. Worth mentioning that the 4th state, apart from being covered with linen instead of paper, is the sturdiest of all, cause there is a dual layer of cardboard. (you can see the joins near the thumb indexes)
Your fac simile project is very interesting, because you will need to follow the manufacturing of each state, which was a quest in itself for the publisher at the time to make the box more and more sturdier and durable.

Many details are given here (fantastic article by Deagol) :
https://tolkienbooks.net/php/1st-boxed-lr.php

Yeah, this sixth is two layers top, bottom and rear, with single layer on each side. I assume the fifth is the same, except for the top and bottom joins being in the middle of the top/bottom, rather than the sides of the top/bottom. Seems a fairly sturdy box, considering. The weak point is the very thin textured paper covering (which has obviously been an issue on lots of products GA&U produced over the years).

Always enjoy seeing your acquisitions and updates, Stu, and your creations and ideas are even better. Great slipcases as always. I really like the idea of the info cards. This is something I may experiment with as well.

Tuor son of Huor wrote:

Always enjoy seeing your acquisitions and updates, Stu, and your creations and ideas are even better. Great slipcases as always. I really like the idea of the info cards. This is something I may experiment with as well.

Thanks for the kind words Tuor son of Huor

Slightly incongruous in terms of the condition of the books/jackets versus the slipcase, but I decided to retire (for now) my (much nicer!) custom slipcase and put my 11/9/8 set in the Jarrolds slipcase, given it is the correct state for the books.

Latest couple of creations. Trying to get back into the skills.

Looks amazing Stu!!! Amazing job!!!

Wonderful work, Stu. Very handsome cases

Yeah, Incredible craftsmanship on all your clamshells, but this OP really shines.
Bravo Monsieur !

Thanks guys, Always a bit of a two steps forward, one step back with making these, just due to long gaps between little spurts of activity. Going to try and be a bit more consistent. I have maybe a dozen ideas that I'd like to progress.

William Morris said (as I understand) "Have nothing in your house that is not either beautiful or useful." You've got beautiful and useful together with these boxes.