The Lord of the Rings – First Edition, First Impression Set – Original First Impression Dust Jackets

A Highly Desirable and Rare Complete First Edition Set

This is a true first edition, first impression set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, published by George Allen & Unwin in 1954-1955. Uniquely, this set retains its original first impression dust jackets, making it highly collectible. All three books remain in their original red cloth bindings with gilt lettering on the spines, and each volume contains its correct fold-out map at the rear.

The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
First edition, first impression.
Dust jacket: First impression, correctly priced at 21s net.
Condition: The red cloth boards remain in good condition, showing only minor handling marks and light shelf wear. The gilt lettering on the spine remains legible. The pages show typical age-related toning, particularly on the endpapers, with minor foxing. The fold-out map at the rear is intact and well-preserved. The dust jacket exhibits noticeable fading to the spine, consistent with exposure to light over time, and light wear along the edges. There is no price clipping.

The Two Towers (1954)
First edition, first impression.
Dust jacket: First impression, price-clipped.
Condition: The red cloth boards are in very good condition, with only minimal signs of shelf wear. The spine gilt remains clear. The pages are clean with some light age-toning, and the fold-out map is present and in excellent condition. The dust jacket retains its correct first impression identifiers but has been price-clipped. It shows fading to the spine, as well as some minor chipping and handling wear along the edges.

The Return of the King (1955)
First edition, first impression.
Dust jacket: First impression, price-clipped.
Condition: The boards are well-preserved with minimal wear, and the spine gilt is still legible. The pages are clean with minor age-related toning. The fold-out map remains intact and in excellent condition. The dust jacket is a true first impression and retains the correct Tolkien design. However, it is price-clipped and exhibits significant fading to the spine, as well as some edge wear and handling marks.

A Highly Coveted Set for Collectors

• Complete first edition, first impression set, with all three books housed in their original first impression dust jackets.
• All volumes retain their original red cloth bindings with gilt lettering.
• Each book includes its original fold-out map, a key feature of first editions.
• The dust jackets, while complete, exhibit spine fading and signs of handling, with The Two Towers and The Return of the King being price-clipped.

An exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a complete first edition, first impression set in original dust jackets—a true piece of literary history.

Terms of sale: Prices are only indications, always inquire if books are still available. We accept Money Orders, cash, or Credit Cards (paypal) for immediate shipping.  Checks will delay shipment for 10 days for checks to clear. Please inquire for shipping quotes.
Interested: Please send email to info@tolkienlibrary.com.