J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Ace Books 1965 “Pirated Edition”

Rare Collectible Ace Books 1965 “Pirated Edition” of The Lord of the Rings

The Fellowship of the Ring – 1965 Ace Books Edition with iconic Gandalf cover art.
The Two Towers – 1965 Ace Books Edition featuring the Balrog confrontation.
The Return of the King – 1965 Ace Books Edition, depicting the final conflict with Sauron.

This set offers Tolkien fans a chance to own a unique piece of literary history. Although the books show wear, their historical importance as part of the “War over Middle-earth” makes them a standout addition to any collection.

This is a rare, infamous 1965 Ace Books “pirated edition” of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, often referred to as the opening salvo in the “War over Middle-earth”. This unauthorized edition, printed before Tolkien secured his American copyright, is based on later printings of the first edition, unlike other paperbacks which use the revised editions.

In 1965, Ace Books took advantage of a potential copyright lapse in the United States, believing that The Lord of the Rings had fallen into the public domain. They launched their own edition in the spring of 1965, without paying royalties to Tolkien. The resulting controversy, including Tolkien’s personal campaign against Ace, was widely covered in the press and contributed to the massive popularity of The Lord of the Rings. Ultimately, Ace agreed to cease printing and pay royalties, marking the end of the “War over Middle-earth”. These editions, printed before the revised edition that secured Tolkien’s copyright, remain a unique and highly collectible set for Tolkien enthusiasts.

The Fellowship of the Ring – Ace Books Edition
The cover shows Gandalf leading the Fellowship. The book has yellowed pages due to the highly acidic paper and some creasing along the spine. Minor stains and a broken spine from reading are present.

The Two Towers – Ace Books Edition
This volume features Gandalf’s confrontation with the Balrog. Similar to the first book, the pages have yellowed, and there is creasing and minor chipping along the edges of the cover.

The Return of the King – Ace Books Edition
The third book shows the final conflict of Sauron. The spine is moderately worn, and a previous owner’s name is inscribed on the first endpaper. Despite the age, the binding remains strong.

This is a well-read yet highly collectible set from the controversial Ace Books release. Although it shows significant wear, the historical significance of this edition makes it a valuable addition to any Tolkien collection.

Although the books show wear, their historical importance as part of the “War over Middle-earth” makes them a standout addition to any collection.

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