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The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket
#cb0030 - The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket - € 1.450

The November 1955 second UK impression of The Return of the King, issued in December 1955, with folding map and its original unclipped second-impression jacket.

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The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust 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 concluding volume of The Lord of the Rings. The title page is dated 1955, and 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, including the extensive Appendices covering the histories and genealogies, chronology, calendars, writing systems and languages of Middle-earth.

Printing and Production



Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Norwich, in 11 on 12 point Imprint type. The 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 difference between the order and the binding totals reflects the printer’s allowance for spoilage.

Binding, Map and Original Dust Jacket



Bound 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 and light rubbing and wear at the spine ends, joints, edges and corners. The page edges are toned and spotted. There is pronounced foxing to the front and rear free endpapers, concentrated towards their upper edges and hinges; the facing pastedowns are considerably cleaner. The photographed text openings are generally clean, with light toning and occasional spotting, including at the rear. The folding map is present and attached at the rear, shown folded in the photographs.

The original jacket is discoloured and spotted, with pronounced browning and surface rubbing to the spine. The author’s name and subtitle on the spine are faded and rubbed, while the main title, “Second Impression” statement and publisher’s name remain legible. The front panel retains a clear Ring-and-Eye design, with scattered marks and some discolouration. There is creasing and wear along the edges and folds, with small tears and abrasion at the foot of the spine and wear at the corners.

A second-impression Return of the King retaining its original matching unclipped jacket and folding map, with attractive red cloth and the endpaper foxing and jacket wear described above.

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

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Pictures (click to enlarge):
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 1
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 2
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 3
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 4
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 5
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 6
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 7
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 8
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 9
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 10
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 11
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 12
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 13
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 14
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 15
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 16
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 17
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 18
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 19
The Return of the King — First Edition, Second Impression, 1955, in Original Dust Jacket, photograph 20
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