Bloomsbury Sale #455
Sale Date - March 13, 2003
| 646. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., first editions, folding maps, original cloth, rubbed and soiled, dust-jackets worn and extensively repaired with tape, spine panel replaced on dust-jacket of vol.1, 8vo, 1954-55. A fine association copy. Richard Adams' copy, with his signature dated to the year of publication on front free endpaper of each vol.; with his bookplate depicting two rabbits and the quotation "..running easily down through the wood.."; and with 6pp. recent autograph notes, comments etc. about Tolkien, the characters in Lord of the Rings, similarities with other literary characters etc. The appearance of one major 20th century literary figure's own copy of another major literary figure's classic work is of considerable importance. Adams' magnum opus Watership Down achieved phenomenal success, much as the Harry Potter books have done over the last few years, although that success was almost all due to the book itself and was not helped by any great cinematic box-office achievements or merchandising spin-offs. est. £5000 – £7000 Unsold |
| 647. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, comprising: The Fellowship of the Ring, one letter of half title removed, endpapers tanned, spine slightly faded, remains of dust-jacket loosely inserted, 1954; The Two Towers, ink inscription on verso of front cover, slight spotting to endpapers, dust-jacket , rubbed, torn at folds of flaps, repaired on verso, rear wrapper cover detached, 1954; The Return of the King, front flap of dust-jacket detached, 3 inch tear to spine, chipped at extremities, rubbed, 1955, first editions, folding maps, bookplate on verso of front covers, original cloth, extremities rubbed, dust-jackets as described; The Silmarillion, first edition, original cloth, dust-jacket, 1977, 8vo (4) est. £2000 – £3000 Sold for £1500 |
| 648. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., vol.1 fourth impression, vol.2 second impression, vol.3 first edition, folding maps, original cloth, spines a little rubbed, 8vo, 1955. est. £200 – £300 Sold for £240 |
| 649. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., later impressions, each vol. signed by the author on title, 3 folding maps, full green morocco with black morocco onlay and gilt-stamped decoration to upper covers representing the eye of Sauron (as on the original dust-jackets), blind and gilt-stamped lettering, that on upper covers repeating that at the head of each title, 8vo, 1960-61. The bindings were executed under the supervision of Peter Waters in about 1963. He was at that time head of the Bookbinding Department at the Royal College of Art, and later went to Washington as conservator at the Library of Congress. est. £2000 – £3000 Sold for £3200 |
| 650. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, second edition, maps, original cloth, spotted, dust-jackets, a little rubbed, edges and extremities slightly worn, 8vo, 1966. est. £150 – £200 Sold for £170 |
| 651. | Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., second edition, second and third impressions, folding maps, original cloth, dust-jackets, rubbed and chipped, some scratches and marks, 8vo, 1967-68. est. £50 – £80 Sold for £10 |
Last modified: 06/14/07 by Urulókë
13
1990