The Lord of the Rings — First Edition Set, 5th / 7th / 5th Impressions, 1956–1960

A three-volume set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, published by George Allen & Unwin and bound in red cloth with gilt spine lettering. Each volume retains its rear folding map.

The Fellowship of the Ring. Fifth impression, February 1956, in a later jacket marked Eighth Impression. The jacket spine is browned with faded red lettering. There are splits and small losses at the spine ends and folds. The front free endpaper has a pictorial bookplate and noticeable browning.

The Two Towers. Seventh impression, 1960, in a matching seventh-impression jacket. The title page bears the joint London and Boston imprint. The jacket retains its 21s net price and shows browning at the spine and edges, with a small chip at the bottom of the rear panel. The bookplate matches the one in Fellowship.

The Return of the King. Fifth impression, 1959, in a matching fifth-impression jacket priced 21s net. The jacket shows fading and wear at the spine ends and a small reddish mark at the foot of the front panel. The front free endpaper bears a Christmas 1960 gift inscription.