The Return of the King — November 1955 Second Impression with Original Jacket

First UK Edition, Second Impression — 1955

Published by George Allen & Unwin, London, this is the second impression of the first edition of The Return of the King, the third and concluding volume of The Lord of the Rings. The title page is dated 1955; the copyright page records the first publication in October 1955 and the second impression in November 1955. Although dated November, this impression was first available in December 1955.

The volume contains 416 pages, completing the narrative and providing the extensive Appendices: histories and genealogies, the chronology of the Third Age, calendars, writing systems, and an account of the languages and peoples of Middle-earth.

Printing and Production

Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Norwich, in 11 on 12 point Imprint type. The second-impression printing order was for 4,000 copies, all for Allen & Unwin, with none exported for Houghton Mifflin’s American issue. Jarrold bound the sheets in two batches: 2,020 copies in December 1955 and 2,030 in August 1956. The small excess over the printing order reflects the normal allowance for overproduction and spoilage.

Binding, Map and Original Dust 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 folding map of Gondor, Rohan and Mordor, printed in red and black, is retained at the rear.

The original Ring-and-Eye dust jacket is marked “Second Impression” on the spine and is unclipped, retaining the printed price of 21s net on the front flap. The rear panel advertises The Hobbit and Farmer Giles of Ham; the rear flap lists the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings. A removable clear protective sleeve is fitted.

Condition

The red cloth retains a strong colour, with clear gilt spine lettering, light rubbing and wear to the spine ends, joints, edges and corners, and a few small marks on the boards. The page edges are toned and spotted. The front and rear endpapers show browning and scattered foxing, most noticeably in bands near the hinges. The front free endpaper has an ink ownership inscription dated 1956, with a pencilled number above. The photographed text openings are generally clean, with light toning and occasional spotting. The rear folding map is present and shown folded.

The original dust jacket has extensive restoration and reinforcement. Multiple repair strips and patches are visible on the reverse, supporting the spine, folds and torn areas of the panels. These include substantial branching tears across the lower front panel and tears along the spine folds. The jacket is discoloured and spotted, with rubbing, creasing and edge wear. The spine lettering and Ring-and-Eye design remain legible. The reverse close-ups show the extent of the repairs and reinforcements; a separate clear protective covering is also present.

A 1955 second-impression Return of the King with folding map and its original matching unclipped dust jacket, extensively restored and reinforced.

Bibliographical reference: Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, pp. 85–99.

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