Here's one, that probably the only difference from the one you posted laurel is the dustjacket, for an absolutely absurd price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200751441456? ... _trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

This is interesting; second printing book, ninth printing dust jacket. Starting bid $360
http://www.ebay.com/itm/J-R-R-TOLKIEN ... tible&hash=item1c26ea9954

So i just ran across Elwe's post for his 1/1 FOTR and TT that sold for over $2000 a piece, so maybe the ROTK i posted was not priced outrageous...but laurel, where do you think you can get a 1/1 ROTK for 500 pounds?

I think even Elwe will admit he got a very good price for such a book.
As we have discussed before prices and especially on ebay isnt an exact science and thus you will see highly prices books and of course bargains. There have been at least 5 ROTK under £500 sold this year on ebay and I know of at least 4 others sold via other sources.

Of course not to say you will see another or maybe you will that the luck of draw and patience. Maybe others will not agree but £500 for this book is max in my mind.

If you want a ROTK for £500 let me know ;)

You didn't say it had to be a decent copy, did you?

eBay item 140750465481
(Failed to sell at EUR 299)

BH

well, since this thread now belongs more in the collector's market place...if i was going to spend the money i would be more interested in a 1/1 FOTR. so if anyone has a copy they would want to part with, let me know And Khamul i saw your auction, just out of curiosity where did you get that copy? (sometimes you just wonder what all a book has seen!)

I didn't "get that copy" --it's just an eBay auction that came & went (a few days back) with no bidders; if that's what you're asking...

laurel is right though; there have been several RK 1st/1st go on eBay this year for under £500.

BH

A 1/1 FOTR is a whole new ball game and £500 wouldnt get you an unjacketed copy let alone a jacketed one. You will need circa £1000+ unless you strike it lucky. (I have done on two occaisions! over the years)

Re the ROTK - here is one that just sold via ABE (WHAT! i can hear you scream) - just goes ot show there are some reasonable (well maybe a bit OTT) priced books there as well:

Title: The Return of the King
Author: Tolkien, J.R.R
Publisher: George Allen and Unwin LTD
Book ID: 015990
Price: USD 499.99
Description: 21s net on the DJ flap. The DJ spine is darkened with a few spots,
DJ with rubbing all around and erosion at the spine ends. Clean red cloth boards
with bumped corners and spine ends. The map is still present at the rear of the
book. The endpapers are darkened from the flaps, previous owner name on the
front endpaper. Nice red topstain, the other edges are a bit foxed. Page 49 has
the number 4 and the wavy lines of print as required for the first edition.
First issue, 7000 copies printed.


For £300-£350 it sounded quite good. I did enquire out of interest - already sold ! One thing for sure got to be quick !

my apologies khamul, i thought you were saying that that was your auction. i know FOTR will be quite a bit more expensive, just going to have to save and be vigilant!

It's not really that Abebooks is expensive laurel --it's just that it is an appalling advert for the book trade. Not all the site's fault mind; just (some of) the booksellers on it. Riddled with Print-On-Demand entries & sloppy descriptions. I just find so many listings very poor & the whole site/format very frustrating...

BH

EDIT: Thought, Peeta, that was what you thought!