The Lord of the Rings — 1974 First Collector’s Edition Printing, with Gandalf Card and Original Slipcase

The First American One-Volume Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. First printing of the American Collector’s Edition, 1974, with the printed statement “First Printing, Collector’s Edition” and printer’s mark H. ISBN 0-395-19395-8.

First issued on 1 November 1974 in an initial printing of 20,000 copies, this was the first American one-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings. It brings The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King together with the appendices, while largely retaining the typesetting of the 1967 revised American edition.

Original Red Binding and Publisher’s Slipcase

The original textured red leatherette binding carries the title and Tolkien’s devices in gold, green and blue foil. The decoration extends across the front, spine and rear boards. Red marbled endpapers complement the binding, and the publisher’s matching red slipcase leaves the decorated spine visible on the shelf. The title page is printed in red and black.

The volume retains its folding map.

Condition

An attractive copy with rich red colour and bright foil decoration. The boards and spine retain a pleasing appearance, and the photographed text pages are clean. Light handling and small signs of rubbing are visible at the extremities and around the slipcase opening; no major loss or splitting is apparent in the photographed case.

A small colour card depicting Gandalf is present at the front, as photographed. No ownership inscription is visible on the photographed preliminary pages.

Bibliographical Reference

Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, pp. 148–149.

A first printing of the original American one-volume Collector’s Edition, in its matching red slipcase.

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