The website is meant to be launched properly next week, I believe on Tuesday the 18th, which is why no emails have been sent yet.
However, looking at the website as it currently stands, I am very disappointed as it certainly does not have all the currently available HC Tolkien offerings on it.
Where are this years calendar and diary, what about the new paperback Silmarillion, etc. ?
I am not sure what HC are trying to achieve with this site, Amazon has a much better selection and in nearly all cases are cheaper than this web site, so the only items I would buy are 'exclusive' items and they had them on the old site.
However, looking at the website as it currently stands, I am very disappointed as it certainly does not have all the currently available HC Tolkien offerings on it.
Where are this years calendar and diary, what about the new paperback Silmarillion, etc. ?
I am not sure what HC are trying to achieve with this site, Amazon has a much better selection and in nearly all cases are cheaper than this web site, so the only items I would buy are 'exclusive' items and they had them on the old site.
Is there going to be anything different between this signed 'exclusive' deluxe, and the normal deluxe?; besides the signed page. I'm wondering whether to bother keeping my order for the 'normal' deluxe, on Amazon, standing or not.
I agree, this site offers nothing at present (besides the promise of these exclusives) that Amazon doesn't; besides slightly higher prices...
BH
I agree, this site offers nothing at present (besides the promise of these exclusives) that Amazon doesn't; besides slightly higher prices...
BH
>Is there going to be anything different between this signed 'exclusive'
>deluxe, and the normal deluxe?; besides the signed page. I'm wondering
>whether to bother keeping my order for the 'normal' deluxe, on Amazon,
>standing or not.
The only difference is that it will be signed and numbered by Alan Lee. Other than the hand-writing will be identical and twenty pounds more expensive than Amazon. For the sake of the extra GBP20, I would say it's probably worth getting a signed copy, but I wouldn't be paying much more than that - especially as Alan Lee signs so many books at events, anyway.
With regards to keeping your Amazon order open, I cancelled mine...:)
Stu
>deluxe, and the normal deluxe?; besides the signed page. I'm wondering
>whether to bother keeping my order for the 'normal' deluxe, on Amazon,
>standing or not.
The only difference is that it will be signed and numbered by Alan Lee. Other than the hand-writing will be identical and twenty pounds more expensive than Amazon. For the sake of the extra GBP20, I would say it's probably worth getting a signed copy, but I wouldn't be paying much more than that - especially as Alan Lee signs so many books at events, anyway.
With regards to keeping your Amazon order open, I cancelled mine...:)
Stu
Just received my copy of the book.
The FAQ on the http://tolkien.co.uk/Footer/Pages/FAQ.aspx website states that the book is signed and numbered by Alan Lee but this is not the case, it is only signed (not numbered) by Alan Lee on the title page.
It is identical to the other current editions but a light green colour and has a red, gold and silver foil motif designed by Alan Lee on the front cover.
The FAQ on the http://tolkien.co.uk/Footer/Pages/FAQ.aspx website states that the book is signed and numbered by Alan Lee but this is not the case, it is only signed (not numbered) by Alan Lee on the title page.
It is identical to the other current editions but a light green colour and has a red, gold and silver foil motif designed by Alan Lee on the front cover.
Great to hear you got your book, Trotter. One question... Does it happen to have the nice hand-cut hole on the side like the Hobbit and LotR had, or is it solid like the CoH and Silmarillion?
Also, would love to see photos! I am afraid I must wait for my copy as I am stuck getting the Amazon version since Tolkien.co.uk will not ship this one to the U.S.
Also, would love to see photos! I am afraid I must wait for my copy as I am stuck getting the Amazon version since Tolkien.co.uk will not ship this one to the U.S.
Can't wait to receive it...
It's a very beautiful design, better than I had expected.
The emblem has a beautiful mixture of colours, and the emblem is designed great too of course
They did more effort on this one I think than the deluxe editions of the Children of Húrin and The Silmarillion...
It's a very beautiful design, better than I had expected.
The emblem has a beautiful mixture of colours, and the emblem is designed great too of course
They did more effort on this one I think than the deluxe editions of the Children of Húrin and The Silmarillion...
Nice looking book. Disappointing that it is not also hand-numbered (as claimed on the FAQ section of the website), especially as I ordered as soon as the site was up and therefore didn't get the discount! Unfortunately Alan Lee is quite a prolific signer, so I don't think these signed copies will prove to be any more desirable than the twenty-pounds-cheaper copy from Amazon.
Still, looks nice and that's the main thing.
Still, looks nice and that's the main thing.
I'll get my tuppence worth in, now that I've opened up my copy and had a looky...
Firstly, it is of decent quality; and looks to be one of the nicer versions of the recent deluxe incarnations. I like the colour. The three colour stamp is lovely too; not so plain as the other deluxe's. The book feels a nice thickness as well. Not so thin as say COH, Hobbit, or Silmarillion; but not so bulky as LotRs. So happy on all those accounts...
But what about the 'exclusive' nature of this particular copy? Mabey I'm missing something here. And, perhaps all will be revealed when the 'plain' deluxe surfaces (in December?). Probably not though...
As Stu points out: it was stated (on the HC site) to be numbered, but is only signed on the title page. The copyright page gives the signed edition its own ISBN. And, the cover slip inside the shrinkwrap states 'personally signed by Alan Lee' i.e. is specific for this signed edition.
I have to ask: Is there going to be a 'plain' deluxe, lacking the signature? I take it this cover slip will be altered if there is? Also, is the other ISBN quoted on the copyright page the number for the standard HB (which I don't have), or is this the ISBN for the unsigned deluxe which we haven't seen yet?
And, lastly, what exactly is going to distinguish this 'exclusive' signed deluxe from the unsigned one? i.e. what if someone puts the unsigned one in front of Alan and asks him to sign it? Is it not going to be exactly the same? Unless Alan is really cute about this, and only dates copies he's asked to sign; or even refuses to sign them.
I'm not complaining about the price. We're basically getting a signed copy for the RRP. If you went into a shop you'd have to pay the £60 for the unsigned deluxe anyway; although obviously discounting online exists with Amazon and the like.
So that's all good. It just concerns me that this copy just appears to be a plain copy signed. And, that HC continue to get information wrong on their own books on their own site! The 10% offer is also a nonsense for those who purchased quickly.
BH
Firstly, it is of decent quality; and looks to be one of the nicer versions of the recent deluxe incarnations. I like the colour. The three colour stamp is lovely too; not so plain as the other deluxe's. The book feels a nice thickness as well. Not so thin as say COH, Hobbit, or Silmarillion; but not so bulky as LotRs. So happy on all those accounts...
But what about the 'exclusive' nature of this particular copy? Mabey I'm missing something here. And, perhaps all will be revealed when the 'plain' deluxe surfaces (in December?). Probably not though...
As Stu points out: it was stated (on the HC site) to be numbered, but is only signed on the title page. The copyright page gives the signed edition its own ISBN. And, the cover slip inside the shrinkwrap states 'personally signed by Alan Lee' i.e. is specific for this signed edition.
I have to ask: Is there going to be a 'plain' deluxe, lacking the signature? I take it this cover slip will be altered if there is? Also, is the other ISBN quoted on the copyright page the number for the standard HB (which I don't have), or is this the ISBN for the unsigned deluxe which we haven't seen yet?
And, lastly, what exactly is going to distinguish this 'exclusive' signed deluxe from the unsigned one? i.e. what if someone puts the unsigned one in front of Alan and asks him to sign it? Is it not going to be exactly the same? Unless Alan is really cute about this, and only dates copies he's asked to sign; or even refuses to sign them.
I'm not complaining about the price. We're basically getting a signed copy for the RRP. If you went into a shop you'd have to pay the £60 for the unsigned deluxe anyway; although obviously discounting online exists with Amazon and the like.
So that's all good. It just concerns me that this copy just appears to be a plain copy signed. And, that HC continue to get information wrong on their own books on their own site! The 10% offer is also a nonsense for those who purchased quickly.
BH
There will be no real difference between the signed and the normal deluxe edition. This is just the first 500 copies printed. It would be terribly expensive to change a lot. I believe it was a fine ID to give it a different ISBN, however who will remember in a few years from now.
I can easily buy a batch of normal deluxe editions have them signed and then sell them as 'one of the 500'; i would not of course, but it is possible.
So we should indeed mention the different ISBN "everywhere" and make it a trade mark, in such that people know they have to ask about the ISBN. But then again, people will want to buy signed copies, even if they have a different ISBN.
My biggest problem is being that Alan Lee does a lot of 'bulk' signings, for book stores like 'books of wonder', 'adc books',... and then also a lot of general signing events all across the globe. In the end his signature will be so 'easily' obtained that there is no particular value in it anymore.
I can easily buy a batch of normal deluxe editions have them signed and then sell them as 'one of the 500'; i would not of course, but it is possible.
So we should indeed mention the different ISBN "everywhere" and make it a trade mark, in such that people know they have to ask about the ISBN. But then again, people will want to buy signed copies, even if they have a different ISBN.
My biggest problem is being that Alan Lee does a lot of 'bulk' signings, for book stores like 'books of wonder', 'adc books',... and then also a lot of general signing events all across the globe. In the end his signature will be so 'easily' obtained that there is no particular value in it anymore.