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Help me identify this copy please

9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 10:55:46 AM UTC

Hi all,
I am collecting books from and about Tolkien for a fair few years now. Recently I started to record the pieces of my collection in a home library app.
As I was going through them I found a copy of The Lord of the Rings that confused me. Here is the complete account of how far I got with my train of thought and research:
Regarding the dust jacket and the information page inside, it looks exactly like a 1977 paperback edition from George Allen & Unwin. But it is a hardback and has the Book Club Associates logo on both the jacket and the spine of the book.
I have a hardback copy of the Books Club Associates version and a copy of the George Allen & Unwin paperback, this seems to be a mule of the two.
I could not find another copy like this online, I was hoping one of you can kindly enlighten me regarding the origins of this edition.
I have attached a couple of pictures below.

Thank you kindly in advance,
Geri

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9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 11:04:26 AM UTC
1978 BCA?
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 11:09:10 AM UTC
I just found this info here, the third section of the notes on this site seems to describe my edition spot on.

http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=442

It seems like a George Allen & Unwin edition has been bound in a BCA cover and was given a BCA dust jacket.
But how and why?
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 11:17:43 AM UTC

Geri T.B. wrote:

I just found this info here, the third section of the notes on this site seems to describe my edition spot on.

http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=442

It seems like a George Allen & Unwin edition has been bound in a BCA cover and was given a BCA dust jacket.
But how and why?

I thought using A&U paperback sheets and binding them in BCA cover was done for some BCA editions? Someone in here will know for sure :)
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 11:18:47 AM UTC
From http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=442

This appears to be the sheets of the Allen & Unwin one volume paperback edition (including the title page, publishing details and advertisements) in a BCA binding and dustwrapper.

BCA took the paperback sheets from Allen & Unwin and bound them as a hardback. Most of these editions are really rebound paperback editions, but in this case they forget to replace the limitation page from the paperback with a BCA page.
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 1:36:16 PM UTC
That's mighty interesting indeed! I have never came across editions like this. Is this common?
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 1:42:18 PM UTC
These editions are paperbacks rebound as hardbacks as well http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=751

The Folio Society issued a Hobbit with the incorrect GA&U limitation page on it, these errors did happen.
http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=145
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 1:52:20 PM UTC
Well thank you all for your help, I learnt something for sure.
As an absolute bonus, I have found this website which will come very handy in the future I am sure.
Maybe I will able to help others as well occasionally.
This was my first post/thread here and it worked like a charm thanks to you people!
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 9:20:09 PM UTC
I have a similar copy. There are enough examples of this practise to, I think, safely draw the conclusions others have stated here.

I described it in my book list as:

THE LORD OF THE RINGS
(BCA/GA&U 1976 Hb 16th imp.) [GA&U Pb sheets bound by BCA in Hb]
9 Aug, 2021
2021-8-9 9:58:01 PM UTC
I think I shall follow suit.
Thank you
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