What do they look like?

Count Comfect · 12-19-2004, 05:56 PM

I've been poking around used bookstores for a long time and noticed the (obvious) point that the editions of LOTR all look different. But I've never seen the early editions (like the Allen and Unwin or the early Houghton Mifflins). I was browsing a local bookstore and found what appeared to be an early one but I can't tell what edition or what printing: and I can't seem to find this information online either. So I was wondering

Does anyone know what the early Tolkien editions look like and how you can tell them apart?

Manveru · 12-19-2004, 06:09 PM

check out the bonus footage on the EE movies and they have shots of the early books

Olmer · 12-19-2004, 10:04 PM

Attalus was giving a link about JRRT work, along with it was pictures of the fist american editions of "The Hobbit"and "LOTR"HERE

Lizra · 12-19-2004, 10:57 PM

Those covers appear to be extremely attractive! Love them! I wish they would reissue that artwork.

Forkbeard · 12-20-2004, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Comfect

I've been poking around used bookstores for a long time and noticed the (obvious) point that the editions of LOTR all look different. But I've never seen the early editions (like the Allen and Unwin or the early Houghton Mifflins). I was browsing a local bookstore and found what appeared to be an early one but I can't tell what edition or what printing: and I can't seem to find this information online either. So I was wondering

Does anyone know what the early Tolkien editions look like and how you can tell them apart?

British or American?

Count Comfect · 12-20-2004, 02:07 AM

Both, but mostly American. Because I am an insular American.

EDIT: Thanks guys for the help.

ItalianLegolas · 01-07-2005, 11:17 PM

i don't know, maybe you could check out e-bay? they have tons of stuff

Embladyne · 01-20-2005, 09:49 PM

I have the 2nd American edition of TTT. It is hardback, and has a black cover with the ring inscribed in gold, and Sauron's eye in the middle of a green ring with the one ring's inscription encircling it all.
I am planning on finding the rest of LOTR in this edition, but searching through used bookstores is often a hit or miss activity, and right now, I'm kinda tight on money 'cause I just bought textbooks. However, the hardcover editions of the Tolkien books I have usually cost from $5 to $7 dollars each, as far as I've been lucky enough to find them. So, it's actually not too bad trying to get the older editions because it seems that what most of the public wants are the new editions with stills from the movies.
I also remember a friend of my family had an early edition of the Silmarilliion and it was also hardback with a green cover, and silver inscription on the front. It truly looked magical to me at the time. (I was in 6th grade when I first read it...and it took me forever.) I'm holding out for that edition, (and the 1999 ed.) but for now, I have a cheap softcover book I picked up at my local used book store.

Bombadillo · 01-27-2005, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olmer

Attalus was giving a link about JRRT work, along with it was pictures of the fist american editions of "The Hobbit"and "LOTR"HERE

Wow those are colorful. I thought I had one of the first American editions; THe Hobbit is white with an orange border and featuring an oval-shaped picture of a landscape (looks like the Shire but isn't), Fellowship has the same picture as the Hobbit but zoomed out and it covers the whole cover, TT is a painting of Mordor and its surroundings and events, RotK is a bunch of dragons under war banners and an erupting volvano, the SIl is gold and has a square pic of Numenor. I think I'll scan them later. All the pages are yellow too.

Em, I want your edition.

My best one of LotR is a huge red leather tome with a tree on its spine in gold, and it's the Red Book of Westmarch.

EDIT: I just noticed that these are actually the early Houghton Mifflin editions of The Hobbit, LotR, and The Silmarillion that I have. Ha! I'll scan them as soon as I figure this machine out.

Lady Ravyn · 02-22-2005, 01:58 PM

i have this hard cover fotr that was a discard from the library i work at. it says its a first or second edition (can't remember which right now) but i'm not too sure. it's a plain white cover and it's got a picture outlined in a frame like the one ring of the great eye on the front underneath the title. it's kinda beat up (or as i like to refer to it, it's been "loved") but i love it anyway

trolls' bane · 03-15-2005, 11:47 PM

I wonder if you're talking about the ones at my school. I would love one of those, not because of the art (Don't remember seeing any anyway), but because of the large fold-out map.

Attalus · 03-16-2005, 04:07 PM

I used to have a .gif file of the English first edition. It was red cloth with the Lidless eye in gold on the cover, with the Feanorean letters from the Ring inscription. A mere $15,000, in RL.

Pytt · 03-16-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attalus

I used to have a .gif file of the English first edition. It was red cloth with the Lidless eye in gold on the cover, with the Feanorean letters from the Ring inscription. A mere $15,000, in RL.

Oh dam! What a thing to posses!

me9996 · 03-16-2005, 05:40 PM

I know what the first edition LOTR books looked like:

books, what else?

That's all you'll get out of me.

Twista · 03-16-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me9996

I know what the first edition LOTR books looked like:

books, what else?

That's all you'll get out of me.

Yet another useful comment from you.

I wonder where Tolkiens original version is (if it still excists) and how much that would be worth

I'd love to read his early ideas of middle earth..

me9996 · 03-16-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twista

Yet another useful comment from you.

Thank you!

Still, I'm probubly right...

12-19-2004, 05:56 PM	#1
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	What do they look like? I've been poking around used bookstores for a long time and noticed the (obvious) point that the editions of LOTR all look different. But I've never seen the early editions (like the Allen and Unwin or the early Houghton Mifflins). I was browsing a local bookstore and found what appeared to be an early one but I can't tell what edition or what printing: and I can't seem to find this information online either. So I was wondering Does anyone know what the early Tolkien editions look like and how you can tell them apart? __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

12-19-2004, 06:09 PM	#2
Manveru Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 256	check out the bonus footage on the EE movies and they have shots of the early books __________________ Earendel arose where the shadow flows At Ocean's silent brim; Through the mouth of night as a ray of light Where the shores are sheer and dim He launched his bark like a silver spark From the last and lonely sand; Then on sunlit breath of day's fiery death He sailed from Westerland

12-19-2004, 10:57 PM	#4
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	Those covers appear to be extremely attractive! Love them! I wish they would reissue that artwork. __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

12-20-2004, 02:07 AM	#6
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	Both, but mostly American. Because I am an insular American. EDIT: Thanks guys for the help. __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall. Last edited by Count Comfect : 12-20-2004 at 02:09 AM.

01-07-2005, 11:17 PM	#7
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	i don't know, maybe you could check out e-bay? they have tons of stuff __________________ What was lost is now found.

12-19-2004, 10:04 PM	#3
Olmer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: LI-woods, NY Posts: 653	Attalus was giving a link about JRRT work, along with it was pictures of the fist american editions of "The Hobbit"and "LOTR"HERE

01-20-2005, 09:49 PM	#8
Embladyne Honourary Elitist Inklette Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: between the mountains and the sea Posts: 704	I have the 2nd American edition of TTT. It is hardback, and has a black cover with the ring inscribed in gold, and Sauron's eye in the middle of a green ring with the one ring's inscription encircling it all. I am planning on finding the rest of LOTR in this edition, but searching through used bookstores is often a hit or miss activity, and right now, I'm kinda tight on money 'cause I just bought textbooks. However, the hardcover editions of the Tolkien books I have usually cost from $5 to $7 dollars each, as far as I've been lucky enough to find them. So, it's actually not too bad trying to get the older editions because it seems that what most of the public wants are the new editions with stills from the movies. I also remember a friend of my family had an early edition of the Silmarilliion and it was also hardback with a green cover, and silver inscription on the front. It truly looked magical to me at the time. (I was in 6th grade when I first read it...and it took me forever.) I'm holding out for that edition, (and the 1999 ed.) but for now, I have a cheap softcover book I picked up at my local used book store. __________________ Even on the pinnacle of a palace a crow does not become an eagle. My DA page

02-22-2005, 01:58 PM	#10
Lady Ravyn Thief Queen of Entmoot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oh, I just wander around, aimlessly... Posts: 1,060	i have this hard cover fotr that was a discard from the library i work at. it says its a first or second edition (can't remember which right now) but i'm not too sure. it's a plain white cover and it's got a picture outlined in a frame like the one ring of the great eye on the front underneath the title. it's kinda beat up (or as i like to refer to it, it's been "loved") but i love it anyway __________________ smooch Proud Member of the Evil Mooters and upstanding citizen of the Planet Bob! And all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be... My Space! Cynicism is what happens when a person opens their eyes; stops blinking in the sun, and starts wondering "why". Question everything, believe only that which you yourself deem true. Go ahead- Call me cynical.

03-15-2005, 11:47 PM	#11
trolls' bane Entmoot Secretary of the Treasury Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Campsite-by-Giraffe Posts: 5,408	I wonder if you're talking about the ones at my school. I would love one of those, not because of the art (Don't remember seeing any anyway), but because of the large fold-out map. __________________ KI6PFA Amateur Radio Operator

03-16-2005, 04:07 PM	#12
Attalus Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the Bay of Belfalas Posts: 1,125	I used to have a .gif file of the English first edition. It was red cloth with the Lidless eye in gold on the cover, with the Feanorean letters from the Ring inscription. A mere $15,000, in RL. __________________ "What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions are not beyond conjecture." - Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial.