Thank you, and thank you for the link to the super deluxe. That is on my list, though the estimate is quite low I think.

Auction Results from Sotheby's

Lot 262 - Poorly rebound Hobbit (Unsold)
Lot 263 - Return of the King Proof (£22,500)
Lot 264 - Signed Letter (£3,750)
Lot 265 - Signed Deluxe LOTR (£3,250)

Shipping estimates on the super deluxe lot to the US so far are 185 pounds and 84 pounds.

Any bets whether lot 263 is going to Oxford?

That shipping is too expensive -- Unsigned SD Hobbits aren't rare or desirable enough to be paying more than half the value on shipping.

I have to say the SD Hobbit is one of the books I regret buying. I doubt I will sell it, but I never, ever look at it. The SD Sil, however, I'd love one of those!

Care to expand on that? Curious what is disappointing about it.

I did get more images of the SD Hobbit and it has condition issues, as expected. I think the last one sold on eBay in the 600 US range, IIRC.