The Fellowship of The Ring

by: JRR Tolkien

US Second Printing 1954/55

The following auction if for a very lovely and rare copy of JRR Tolkien's masterpiece, The Fellowship of the Ring.  This is a second US printing of the first edition and it is very, very difficult to obtain.  It comes in the original Dj as well.  The US ordered the pages from the UK publishers (Allen & Unwin) and then had the books bound here in blue covers and different dust jackets.  In the UK this would be a third printing copy.  When the US made their second order, the second printing books had already been bound in the UK.  The print run for these early US copies was very, very small. 

Both book and dust jacket meet all issue points for a US second printing.  The picture of Tolkien on the back of the dust jacket has a slight 'v' shape to it along the bottom: it should be cut straight across.  In the book itself: the page '11' is smudged (called ghosting), the address on the colophon for Auckland is Haddon Hall (both only found on the second printing).  Also, the map on the back is in great condition.  (It folds down and this too was later corrected.  They made it fold up so that it didn't get in the way while reading the book!). 

The dust jacket shows some wear; the pictures really do say it all.  The book is still very tightly bound and there are no names or bookplates in it.  The map is in excellent condition at the back of the book.  Great book for the collector! 

This is very difficult to obtain and a must have for any collector of rare and valuable Tolkien editions of The Lord of the Rings.  Please see my seller rating and bid with confidence.  I will package up this book very well in a good box.  Shipping airmail to the US / Canada is only $14.  If you would like it insured / traced online and in approximately 4-5 days, the shipping cost is $24.  Best of luck to the winner of this great book with no reserve!!