This one I really want but I can't imagine I'll ever buy a book that's so expensive. And it's a rebinding:
Hobbit 1st American Ed
Hobbit 1st American Ed
On quality - I agree that these are really well made - good quality leather, Smyth-sewn, 22kt gilt and accents.
Also, one thing I neglected to mention in the guide page (updated now) is that the maps are laid-in rather than tipped-in. In other words, this is one of the few editions where the maps are not attached, so you can easily remove them while reading (or lose them, so beware when buying used).
For the rune error, here is a good post on the topic:
http://eastonpress.blogspot.com/2011/ ... ng-book-by-its-cover.html
Here is an image of the runes as they should be (working away from books, sorry this is dragging out - please correct me if I am wrong!)
It looks like the fourth rune on the second line of the Easton Hobbit is wrong - it should look like a capital H with two horizontal bars, but instead is just two vertical bars. Also, the fifth rune on the fourth line on the Easton Hobbit is drawn as the prior one should have been, when instead it should look like a capital C.
And one more edit/note: the rune on the bottom of the book in the box ("Th" with dots) is the signature of Thrain (the map has that rune twice, one for Thror and Thrain, the creators of the map, plus the second moon runes added by Thrain and discussed here).
Also, one thing I neglected to mention in the guide page (updated now) is that the maps are laid-in rather than tipped-in. In other words, this is one of the few editions where the maps are not attached, so you can easily remove them while reading (or lose them, so beware when buying used).
For the rune error, here is a good post on the topic:
http://eastonpress.blogspot.com/2011/ ... ng-book-by-its-cover.html
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush kn" and the bottom set reads "Of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole". The same set of runes top and bottom appear on the back cover. I'm pleased that Easton decided to incorporate the dwarven runes into their cover design, but it is unfortunate that they chose a long piece of text and had to cut the middle out of it. For those who are curious, the full text that they are quoting is "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the light of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole". Its a line that is pretty integral to the plot but its too bad that it got cut in the middle, perhaps they could have had it continue on to the back so the whole phrase would fit or use the other shorter dwarven quote from the map, "Five feet high the door and three may walk abreast - Th. Th." This would likely have fit on the cover and could have been repeated on the back. At the bottom of the cover is a rune resembling the "Th" rune with two dots on other sides surrounded by a box. I do not recognise this rune and if anyone has any insight into what this represents please let me know in the comments.
Here is an image of the runes as they should be (working away from books, sorry this is dragging out - please correct me if I am wrong!)
It looks like the fourth rune on the second line of the Easton Hobbit is wrong - it should look like a capital H with two horizontal bars, but instead is just two vertical bars. Also, the fifth rune on the fourth line on the Easton Hobbit is drawn as the prior one should have been, when instead it should look like a capital C.
And one more edit/note: the rune on the bottom of the book in the box ("Th" with dots) is the signature of Thrain (the map has that rune twice, one for Thror and Thrain, the creators of the map, plus the second moon runes added by Thrain and discussed here).
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