Favourite Edition? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 08-21-2004, 08:30 AM

As both Houghton-Mifflin (US) & Harper-Collins (UK) are bringing out a new anniversary edition of LotR in November: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/...eNumber=689507
I was wondreing what everyone's favourite edition is - & whether you have it, or just hope to own it one day. I have the ed. with the Alan Lee paintings, but unfortunately they remind me of the movies too much, so I'm a little uncomfortable reading it, & have to 'look away' from the pics! Some readers love the Folio Society edition - though apparently it is full of typos!

Of course, it doesn't have to be an expensive edition - it could be a battered old paperback, or one given you as a gift, or one with some other kind of sentimental value. Or have you, like me, replaced an early edition which you then gave away & wish you hadn't - my first LotR was a 3 vol paperback edition in a slip case, published by Allen & Unwin (circa 1976). About a year later I replaced it with hardbacks & gave that set away, & still miss it!

Also, as with the Folio edition, does anyone know of any editions to avoid - with typos, poor binding, etc?

Lalwendë · 08-21-2004, 10:59 AM

I was thinking of this topic as a thread the other day!

My favourite copy is
this edition (this particular link isn't mine to sell, by the way!). I think this is the 1981 edition. This was the set which belonged to my brother and were the ones I first read (and immediately re-read). They are very battered, having had two owners, but I wouldn't part with them (I never give away books anyway). I have the edition of The Hobbit to match this, and a very old Silmarillion and UT. I also have the slightly later boxed 1986 paperback edition (Roger Garland high-fantasy type covers), which I was given to prevent me damaging my brother's copy; these are the ones I use most, and are now well on their way to becoming battered themselves.

I do want the Alan Lee edition, as somebody I know bought it the other week and I was most covetous. Perhaps I may ask for it for my birthday presentses. I would also like a one volume paperback, purely for use when I'm debating points from the text (but I would like the one with Gandalf on the cover).

Talking of being covetous, I had a discussion about books with someone I was working with a couple of months ago, and it turned out that she owned the first editions. She was shocked when I told her what they would be worth.

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 08-22-2004, 03:22 AM

The book in davem's link looks awesome, very stylish, but a bit too fancy for my taste. I think I couldn't concentrate on reading with a book that looks like a piece of art itself.
I have become attached to this Finnish hardback edition. It's only a few years old but it has sand and stains in it (maybe it was a bad idea to take it to the beach with me...).
I also like my English edition of the book. It's a paperback and dind't cost much but I think it's kind of sympathetic.

Lalaith · 08-23-2004, 08:30 AM

Excellent! Yet another opportunity for me to sing the praises of my beloved seven volume hardback edition, published by Harper Collins (UK) in 1999.
Each book is beautifully bound and so much easier to handle than the three-volume version. The appendixes get their own volume. And it came with a free CD of Tolkien reading his works.
I'd love to post a link to a picture of it but I can't find any trace of it on the net...

Saraphim · 08-23-2004, 03:08 PM

I just have the ever-popular three-book 1994 (I think, don't quote me on that) edition that one would see in bookstores most often. The tragedy is that they are currently in a state of decay, and I'm in the market for that spiffy new one you linked to, davem, lest my sources be permenently held together with rubber bands and paperclips.

Diamond18 · 08-23-2004, 05:30 PM

I have this edition. (Make sure you scroll down to see the cool cover.) It's a bit simliar to the anniversary edition in design, though the color and actual patterns on the covers and spine are different.

mark12_30 · 08-23-2004, 05:38 PM

There are so many nice ones, it's quite hard to choose. I remember feeling very triumphant when I bought my second Red-Box Ballantine paperback set. Those (and several others) had Tolkien's own paintings on the cover: Hobbiton, The Forest, and Barad-Dur. But it was the Heraldry on the red box that (as a young teenager) hypnotized me for hours on end.

The much newer boxed paperback set with the illustrations of Frodo at the Ford, Sam & Frodo at the Emyn Muil, and Gandalf approaching Minas Tirith are another favorite. The Hobbit has Gandalf approaching Bag End which has been the Del Rey cover ever since.

Diamond, the Red Book is lovely! Have you seen the Green Book?

Saraphim, go ahead and get a new set-- just take good care of your old one and never throw it away (like I did, fool that I am. It was mildewed, more's the pity.) So don't store yours in a damp basement like I did...

Lhunardawen · 08-26-2004, 01:26 AM

My friend has an all-in-one copy of LotR and the Appendices, paperback, and has the picture of the Ring with the ashes of Sauron's cut finger in front. Despite the thickness, it was relatively light and does not get unsightly lines at the spine. I hope to get a copy of that. I forgot the publisher, though.

Diamond18 · 08-26-2004, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Diamond, the Red Book is lovely! Have you seen the Green Book?

Yes, indeed. I have that one too.

Lalwendë · 10-03-2005, 06:16 AM

Thought I'd do a bump-up on this one seeing as we've been talking about different editions on the Books forum. Plus, I've got some rather ace links here - which I must add, davem actually found last night.

The Tolkien Library is a site which aims to detail all the writings available by Tolkien; it also has items about collecting the books, and some other good links.

This gallery of Book Covers is fascinating - and not so long ago (though I cannot now recall on which thread) I asked if anyone knew if there was such a thing as a gallery of cover art. Well, there is, and this is a pretty good one as it includes not only popular covers but some strange and freaky ones too.

Finally, Tolkien Books is my favourite of these three as it's focussed on UK editions and goes into detail with just about anything you might need to know about the many editions available (apart from prices

). I should imagine this would be really useful when browsing ebay... It also has a lot of useful info. I was on this for too long last night, mentally creating a shopping list...

Lalaith · 10-03-2005, 06:55 AM

Thanks for those links Lalwende, I just found my edition on the Tolkien Books site, it's the Harper Collins Millennium hardback edition, published in 1999.

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-03-2005, 07:00 AM

I've mentioned my one and only (and therefore, favorite

) LotR edition on other threads. [Esty has only one copy, Esty needs only one copy. One Book to rule them all!] It's the one that was given to me in 1973, Ballantine's red-boxed paperback edition. I love the fact that it uses Tolkien's own artwork for the covers! It has held up very well, though it's been used a lot these past years on the Downs and is underlined (in pencil - I never underline books in ink!) extensively. I've looked at some of the interesting new, illustrated editions, but have seen no immediate need for purchasing any of them yet. I have lots of Tolkien and related books, but only one each.

Hilde Bracegirdle · 10-03-2005, 10:26 AM

Oh Lalwendë, bless your heart for those links! I see my old copies, as well as my new set in the second link. I have been reading from the gold boxed edition with heraldary, the books are the last 4 in the 3rd row from the top in your 2nd link. They are now falling apart from traveling to work with me, and I have plans to retire them with honor at the end of CbC.

Also my old copy of The Silmarillion is there!!! The cover shows the mountains and is 4th after Mr. Bliss. Sadly, I have reluctantly declared it MIA as I can not seem to find it anywhere.

Some of the books in the last link seem to have come from M-E itself. How wonderful they are!

08-21-2004, 08:30 AM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Favourite Edition? As both Houghton-Mifflin (US) & Harper-Collins (UK) are bringing out a new anniversary edition of LotR in November: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/...eNumber=689507 I was wondreing what everyone's favourite edition is - & whether you have it, or just hope to own it one day. I have the ed. with the Alan Lee paintings, but unfortunately they remind me of the movies too much, so I'm a little uncomfortable reading it, & have to 'look away' from the pics! Some readers love the Folio Society edition - though apparently it is full of typos! Of course, it doesn't have to be an expensive edition - it could be a battered old paperback, or one given you as a gift, or one with some other kind of sentimental value. Or have you, like me, replaced an early edition which you then gave away & wish you hadn't - my first LotR was a 3 vol paperback edition in a slip case, published by Allen & Unwin (circa 1976). About a year later I replaced it with hardbacks & gave that set away, & still miss it! Also, as with the Folio edition, does anyone know of any editions to avoid - with typos, poor binding, etc? __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

08-22-2004, 03:22 AM	#3
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,234	The book in davem's link looks awesome, very stylish, but a bit too fancy for my taste. I think I couldn't concentrate on reading with a book that looks like a piece of art itself. I have become attached to this Finnish hardback edition. It's only a few years old but it has sand and stains in it (maybe it was a bad idea to take it to the beach with me...). I also like my English edition of the book. It's a paperback and dind't cost much but I think it's kind of sympathetic. __________________ Fenris Wolf

08-23-2004, 03:08 PM	#5
Saraphim Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The other side of freezing. Posts: 404	I just have the ever-popular three-book 1994 (I think, don't quote me on that) edition that one would see in bookstores most often. The tragedy is that they are currently in a state of decay, and I'm in the market for that spiffy new one you linked to, davem, lest my sources be permenently held together with rubber bands and paperclips. __________________ I drink Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters! ~ Always remember: pillage BEFORE you burn.

08-23-2004, 05:30 PM	#6
Diamond18 Eidolon of a Took Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: my own private fantasy world Posts: 3,460	The Red Book I have this edition. (Make sure you scroll down to see the cool cover.) It's a bit simliar to the anniversary edition in design, though the color and actual patterns on the covers and spine are different. __________________ All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression.

08-23-2004, 05:38 PM	#7
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	There are so many nice ones, it's quite hard to choose. I remember feeling very triumphant when I bought my second Red-Box Ballantine paperback set. Those (and several others) had Tolkien's own paintings on the cover: Hobbiton, The Forest, and Barad-Dur. But it was the Heraldry on the red box that (as a young teenager) hypnotized me for hours on end. The much newer boxed paperback set with the illustrations of Frodo at the Ford, Sam & Frodo at the Emyn Muil, and Gandalf approaching Minas Tirith are another favorite. The Hobbit has Gandalf approaching Bag End which has been the Del Rey cover ever since. Diamond, the Red Book is lovely! Have you seen the Green Book? Saraphim, go ahead and get a new set-- just take good care of your old one and never throw it away (like I did, fool that I am. It was mildewed, more's the pity.) So don't store yours in a damp basement like I did... __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve. Last edited by mark12_30; 08-23-2004 at 05:42 PM.

08-21-2004, 10:59 AM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I was thinking of this topic as a thread the other day! My favourite copy is this edition (this particular link isn't mine to sell, by the way!). I think this is the 1981 edition. This was the set which belonged to my brother and were the ones I first read (and immediately re-read). They are very battered, having had two owners, but I wouldn't part with them (I never give away books anyway). I have the edition of The Hobbit to match this, and a very old Silmarillion and UT. I also have the slightly later boxed 1986 paperback edition (Roger Garland high-fantasy type covers), which I was given to prevent me damaging my brother's copy; these are the ones I use most, and are now well on their way to becoming battered themselves. I do want the Alan Lee edition, as somebody I know bought it the other week and I was most covetous. Perhaps I may ask for it for my birthday presentses. I would also like a one volume paperback, purely for use when I'm debating points from the text (but I would like the one with Gandalf on the cover). Talking of being covetous, I had a discussion about books with someone I was working with a couple of months ago, and it turned out that she owned the first editions. She was shocked when I told her what they would be worth.

08-23-2004, 08:30 AM	#4
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Excellent! Yet another opportunity for me to sing the praises of my beloved seven volume hardback edition, published by Harper Collins (UK) in 1999. Each book is beautifully bound and so much easier to handle than the three-volume version. The appendixes get their own volume. And it came with a free CD of Tolkien reading his works. I'd love to post a link to a picture of it but I can't find any trace of it on the net...

08-26-2004, 01:26 AM	#8
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	My friend has an all-in-one copy of LotR and the Appendices, paperback, and has the picture of the Ring with the ashes of Sauron's cut finger in front. Despite the thickness, it was relatively light and does not get unsightly lines at the spine. I hope to get a copy of that. I forgot the publisher, though.

10-03-2005, 06:16 AM	#10
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Thought I'd do a bump-up on this one seeing as we've been talking about different editions on the Books forum. Plus, I've got some rather ace links here - which I must add, davem actually found last night. The Tolkien Library is a site which aims to detail all the writings available by Tolkien; it also has items about collecting the books, and some other good links. This gallery of Book Covers is fascinating - and not so long ago (though I cannot now recall on which thread) I asked if anyone knew if there was such a thing as a gallery of cover art. Well, there is, and this is a pretty good one as it includes not only popular covers but some strange and freaky ones too. Finally, Tolkien Books is my favourite of these three as it's focussed on UK editions and goes into detail with just about anything you might need to know about the many editions available (apart from prices ). I should imagine this would be really useful when browsing ebay... It also has a lot of useful info. I was on this for too long last night, mentally creating a shopping list... __________________ Gordon's alive!

10-03-2005, 06:55 AM	#11
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Thanks for those links Lalwende, I just found my edition on the Tolkien Books site, it's the Harper Collins Millennium hardback edition, published in 1999. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

10-03-2005, 07:00 AM	#12
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Yesss, preciousss, but we has only one! I've mentioned my one and only (and therefore, favorite ) LotR edition on other threads. [Esty has only one copy, Esty needs only one copy. One Book to rule them all!] It's the one that was given to me in 1973, Ballantine's red-boxed paperback edition. I love the fact that it uses Tolkien's own artwork for the covers! It has held up very well, though it's been used a lot these past years on the Downs and is underlined (in pencil - I never underline books in ink!) extensively. I've looked at some of the interesting new, illustrated editions, but have seen no immediate need for purchasing any of them yet. I have lots of Tolkien and related books, but only one each. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 10-03-2005 at 11:47 AM. Reason: including link to illustrate

10-03-2005, 10:26 AM	#13
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Oh Lalwendë, bless your heart for those links! I see my old copies, as well as my new set in the second link. I have been reading from the gold boxed edition with heraldary, the books are the last 4 in the 3rd row from the top in your 2nd link. They are now falling apart from traveling to work with me, and I have plans to retire them with honor at the end of CbC. Also my old copy of The Silmarillion is there!!! The cover shows the mountains and is 4th after Mr. Bliss. Sadly, I have reluctantly declared it MIA as I can not seem to find it anywhere. Some of the books in the last link seem to have come from M-E itself. How wonderful they are!