Karl wrote:
I have both sets and enjoy them for different reasons. Since you are most interested in the "new" books here I think the trade route is a good one. In addition to your list, you can add A Secret Vice and The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, both of which will likely never have deluxe editions. One other book I would include in this series of recent trade editions is the Alan Lee illustrated Tales from the Perilous Realm. This ten-book series, then, has three subsets in terms of jacket design, which are easily seen when the spines are lined up. The four Alan Lee illustrated volumes form the first subset, Arthur and S&G the next, and the remaining four the final subset. The three jacket variation compliment each other well. Since I am not a huge stickler for first impressions of these books, I opted for a recent printing of CoH, which has a white HC spine logo to match the other nine volumes. Earlier printings had a gold logo.

Karl you wouldn't happen to have a picture of the spines all together and some ISBN info would you?
I've just about given up on matching B-Format paperbacks so figure I might as well try my hand at finishing the "trade" route (I've got a few already that I picked up for cheap in eBay auctions - an older CoH, Kullervo and Lay of Aotrou and Itroun)

I second the request for pictures!

Here's a pic of some of mine in chronological order (save the last two smaller books) and a pic of Karl's suggested order All first impressions.

Thanks Berelach for posting the photo. I'm actually still waiting (in the U.S.) on my preordered Gondolin from Amazon UK, so my photo would be incomplete (though it would include the "matching" CoH ;). As for my suggested order, I'd probably put the three Great Tales together even though it violates the chronology within the Alan Lee subset. Admittedly, I'm a bit anal-retentive when it comes to aesthetics!

ISBNs:
CoH: 9780007246229
B&L: 9780008214197
Gondolin: 9780008302757
Perilous Realm: 9780007257546 (I've found this one a bit tricky to find these days)
S&G: 9780007317233
Arthur: 9780007489947
Beowulf: 9780007590063 (also a bit tricky to find cheaply now; India seems to have a lot (according to BookFinder), but the one I ordered "new" came with lots of mildew damage)
Kullervo: 9780008131364
Secret Vice: 9780008131395
A&I: 9780008202132

Thanks for the photos. Unfortunately for my wallet, they tip me towards the Deluxe editions. I like how well they match on the shelf, and I’m nostalgic for the stamped motifs (like the trade editions of Silm and some others have), whereas the jacket designs don’t do much for me.

Also, nuts, you’re making me wonder if the US Roverandom is smaller than the UK Roverandom!

Would anyone be able to provide a picture of the Deluxe editions of just the books I mentioned in the OP? Thanks very much in advance!

To put your mind at ease, the U.S. Roverandom is the same size as the U.K. I don't have the U.K. version, but my U.S. version is the same height as my UK Extended Smith of WM, seen nearby the UK Roverandom in Berelach's photo. (In the photo, SoWM actually looks taller but I think the dj is riding a bit high). Fortunately HM doesn't shrink everything!

Karl wrote:
As for my suggested order, I'd probably put the three Great Tales together even though it violates the chronology within the Alan Lee subset.

Absolutely, I was thinking that, but I went with setting the non-white HC logo on the outside... gotta get one of those new CoHs, but first gotta figure out on which printing it changed over! (Otherwise it's too easy.)

Ulmo wrote:
Also, nuts, you’re making me wonder if the US Roverandom is smaller than the UK Roverandom!

Nope, just bad photography. As Karl says, they're the same. Here's another imperfect pic.

Ulmo wrote:
Would anyone be able to provide a picture of the Deluxe editions of just the books I mentioned in the OP? Thanks very much in advance!

Is this what you need? My copies are not immaculate. I'm always happier to settle for Near Fine or Very Good if it's a good deal and a first printing.

Absolutely perfect. Thank you!!

Good choice