rosshm16 wrote:

I'm optimistic they might have the cloth-bound "second series" format since the recent clamshell LOTRs have that look, but expecting the paper-bound look is mostly likely.

I think there would be a strong desire within HC to complete the original 2004- deluxe set. I'd eat my hat if they didn't follow this format. That said, I don't have a hat, so this is an easy gamble for me!

The US/William Morrow editions of Bovadium and the Alan Lee illustrated deluxe Hobbit are both pre-orderable now on harpercollins.com (from HarperCollins; until recently their pages just linked to Amazon etc.).

I've ordered several WM books direct from HarperCollins and have been unimpressed with their packing, although only one has arrived damaged.

rosshm16 wrote:

The US/William Morrow editions of Bovadium and the Alan Lee illustrated deluxe Hobbit are both pre-orderable now on harpercollins.com (from HarperCollins; until recently their pages just linked to Amazon etc.).

I've ordered several WM books direct from HarperCollins and have been unimpressed with their packing, although only one has arrived damaged.

After getting burned with Letters, I did not take the risk of getting an inferior product this time and ordered the HarperCollins edition of Bovadium (which I was pleased with), but I'll be interested to see if the WM edition will actually be identical to the HC versions (other than the logo change) or will be without a book ribbon the way Letters was.

Tuor son of Huor wrote:

rosshm16 wrote:

The US/William Morrow editions of Bovadium and the Alan Lee illustrated deluxe Hobbit are both pre-orderable now on harpercollins.com (from HarperCollins; until recently their pages just linked to Amazon etc.).

I've ordered several WM books direct from HarperCollins and have been unimpressed with their packing, although only one has arrived damaged.

After getting burned with Letters, I did not take the risk of getting an inferior product this time and ordered the HarperCollins edition of Bovadium (which I was pleased with), but I'll be interested to see if the WM edition will actually be identical to the HC versions (other than the logo change) or will be without a book ribbon the way Letters was.

I'll be getting a WM review copy on or shortly before US release, so I'll post some images when I have it in hand.

Tuor son of Huor wrote:

After getting burned with Letters, I did not take the risk of getting an inferior product this time and ordered the HarperCollins edition of Bovadium (which I was pleased with), but I'll be interested to see if the WM edition will actually be identical to the HC versions (other than the logo change) or will be without a book ribbon the way Letters was.

I try to support their US publishing efforts with my wallet, but am also waiting on ordering Bovadium for the same reason you described.

The inconsistency is odd. The US/WM Fall of Númenor for example is a really nice trade hardcover, but then they follow that effort up with Letters.

Harpercollins just uploaded new mock-ups for the upcoming deluxe editions of The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition and J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography

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$93.48 Amazon.com (Hardcover) - Availability: LEADTIME

£59.75 Amazon.co.uk (Hardcover) - Availability: LEADTIME

€77.33 Amazon.de (Gebundene Ausgabe) - Availability: IN_STOCK

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£108.18 eBay UK - Availability: Click to check

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https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmi ... Fvariant%3D55890111889787

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$97.74 Amazon.com (Hardcover) - Availability: LEADTIME

£61.23 Amazon.co.uk (Hardcover) - Availability: IN_STOCK

€73.00 Amazon.de (Gebundene Ausgabe) - Availability: LEADTIME

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https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmi ... Fvariant%3D55890111332731

They are also up for preorder at Amazon.de.

I was really hoping for a black Letters.

The low contrast green will be a pass for me, I think.

Emilien wrote:

Harpercollins just uploaded new mock-ups for the upcoming deluxe editions of The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition and J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography

I have no interest personally in Biography but man that letters colour is lovely! and it would just be wrong if a Scribe did not order a deluxe letters

Both of these are available for pre-order for HC on the 14th November 2025, I'd suggest waiting for a 50% off sale after that date if you are in the UK and want to order.

Asked HC for a bit more info on these books.

The Biography includes the original 16 pages of plates tipped in in two sections, but uses the latest paperback setting.

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J.R.R. Tolkien - A Biography (2016)

Humphrey Carpenter
9780008207779
HARPER COLLINS (2016-10-20)

£12.99 HarperCollins (Paperback) - Availability: Click to check

$14.31 Amazon.com (Paperback) - Availability: LEADTIME

£11.45 Amazon.co.uk (Paperback) - Availability: IN_STOCK

€16.12 Amazon.de (Taschenbuch) - Availability: IN_STOCK_SCARCE

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Letters will include a frontispiece, reinstating Tolkien’s landmark 4th February 1938 letter which appeared in the first edition, Carpenter #22: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth • 4 February 1938 (#25).

There have been a couple of issues with the data feed for Letters: its RRP is actually £90, so the same as for the Biography.