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The Return of the Shadow – J.R.R. Tolkien – Second Printing of the 1988 American Edition
#jw0020 - The Return of the Shadow – J.R.R. Tolkien – Second Printing of the 1988 American Edition - 175 EUR

Second printing of the first American edition of The Return of the Shadow, Houghton Mifflin (edition first published in 1988), Volume VI of The History of Middle-earth and Part One of The History of The Lord of the Rings.

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The Return of the Shadow – J.R.R. Tolkien – Second Printing of the 1988 American Edition


Second printing of the first American edition of The Return of the Shadow, Houghton Mifflin (edition first published in 1988), Volume VI of The History of Middle-earth and Part One of The History of The Lord of the Rings.



The first documentary volume on the composition of The Lord of the Rings follows the story from its earliest hobbit beginnings through the journey toward Rivendell.

Bibliographical details:
– Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; edited by Christopher Tolkien
– Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, Boston
– Edition: First American edition, second printing; number line ending in 2
– Edition first published: 1988; exact year of this second printing not stated
– Format: Hardcover in illustrated dust jacket
– ISBN 0-395-49863-5

Condition report:
The original Alan Lee dust jacket retains its $24.95 price and shows shelf wear, rubbing and soiling, creasing, and small tears and chips at the edges, spine ends and fold corners. The black cloth remains generally clean, the binding is firm, and the pages appear clean and well preserved.

An original Houghton Mifflin packing slip dated 8 April 1992 is laid in, recording shipment of this title to the Little Professor Book Center in West Bend, Wisconsin.

A collectible first American edition revealing the remarkable beginnings of Tolkien’s masterpiece.

Pictures (click to enlarge):
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