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The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket
#cb0024 - The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket - € 1.250

A July 1955 third-impression Two Towers in original red cloth, with its folding map and matching original unclipped jacket, marked “Third Impression”.

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The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket


First UK Edition, Third Impression — 1955



Published by George Allen & Unwin, London, this is the third impression of the first edition of The Two Towers, the second volume of The Lord of the Rings. First issued in July 1955, this impression is identified by its undated title page: the copyright page retains the statement “Second impression 1955”. The accompanying original dust jacket is correctly marked “Third Impression” on the front flap.

Printing and Production



Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Norwich, in 11 on 12 point Imprint type. The third-impression production run comprised 4,750 sets of sheets, including those supplied for Houghton Mifflin’s American issue. The Allen & Unwin copies were bound by Key & Whiting in batches between September 1955 and March 1956.

Binding, Map and Original Jacket



In the publisher’s original red cloth, with gilt spine lettering and Ring device, and a red top edge. Runic borders frame the title-page opening. Christopher Tolkien’s 1954 map of The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age is retained on a folding sheet at the rear.

The matching original third-impression dust jacket carries the Ring-and-Eye design based on Tolkien’s artwork. It is unclipped, retaining the printed price of 21s net. The rear panel advertises The Hobbit and Farmer Giles of Ham. A clear protective sleeve is fitted.

Condition



The red cloth retains a strong colour, with clear gilt lettering. There is rubbing and wear at the spine ends, joints, board edges and corners, and a few small pale marks on the boards. The page edges are toned and spotted.

The endpapers show browning and scattered foxing, including a darker vertical band on the front free endpaper. A previous owner’s name and the date 1955 are written there in ink, with a separate pencil notation at the upper corner. The photographed text pages are generally clean, with light toning and occasional spotting. The rear folding map is present and shown folded.

The jacket has pronounced mottled browning and spotting to the spine, with further scattered spots and marks on the panels. There is rubbing, creasing and edge wear, with small losses at the spine ends, particularly the foot. The spine title is faded and rubbed; the front-panel title and Ring-and-Eye design remain clear.

A third-impression Two Towers in original cloth, retaining its folding map and matching original unclipped third-impression jacket.

Bibliographical reference: Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, pp. 83–99.

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Pictures (click to enlarge):
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 1
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 2
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 3
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 4
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 5
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 6
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 7
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 8
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 9
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 10
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 11
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 12
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 13
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 14
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 15
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 16
The Two Towers — First Edition, Third Impression, 1955, with Original Jacket, photograph 17
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