1963 1st UK Lord of the Rings Deluxe Edition with Pauline Baynes Slipcase.

The true 1st Deluxe Edition of the Lord of the Rings, housed in the very scarce original publishers slipcase featuring the Pauline Baynes color triptych artwork.

The true 1st Deluxe Edition of the 3 volumes of the Lord of the Rings, comprised of "The Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers", and "The Return of the King".

This set is bound in the original Black Buckram cloth with gilt titles, author and publisher to the spines of each volume. Each volume features Bevel-Edged boards, gilded page edges, and original silk bookmark sewn in.
The books are in Very Good condition, with a few marks and rubbing to the gilded edges, but no writing or inscriptions in any of the books.

The spine of the Two Towers looks lighter in color, but this is a common flaw with this edition. Seems to only occur with the Two Towers, and never the other two books. The books are housed in the very scarce original publishers slipcase featuring the Pauline Baynes color "triptych" artwork.

The first editions of each of the three book titles were printed fourteen, eleven and eleven times respectively. The impressions configuration roughly correspond to years as sets sold after 1960 as they were then purchase as sets in stores. When Allen & Unwin decided to published The Lord of the Rings in a three-volume deluxe hardback edition, they asked Pauline Baynes to design a slipcase. She was an artist that Tolkien felt best depicted his vision of Middle Earth. This slipcase for these sets unfortunately didn't wear well; this set being an exception, having some fade and scuffs, few of the original slipcases still exist.

Like some dust jackets, the original slipcase of this set is the most valuable feature. This is truly a once in a lifetime chance to buy a 1964 set in original slipcase with books in near fine condition that appear not to have been read.

Near Fine with slight scuffing at the top and bottom from being slid in and out of the case. All interior pages and maps are in excellent condition. Bindings & boards are tight, square, and flat. Slipcase is in very good to excellent condition.

The scarcest of all the original Allen & Unwin 1st Editions, as well as the Houghton Mifflin issues. According to publishers records, 1000 or less sets produced.
Briefly mentioned in the Tolkien bibliography by Hammond and Anderson on page 98.

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