The Return of the "Collector's" Editions

 r/tolkienbooks - These are the new artworks for the new "Special clothbound collector’s hardback editions" coming on August 18th!

Good news for anyone who's missed the much sought-after and coveted "collector's editions" (explanation of quotes further below, without sarcasm) that came out back in 2013.

It appears that they are coming back later this year! Based on the description and cover artwork, anyway. These are likely re-prints of the 2013 editions, though under a different ISBN; much like the recent re-print of Tales From the Perilous Realm. Here's hoping that they stay in print longer, and anyone that really wanted them the first time can get them. 

The thing is, as I often say, there's no 'wrong' Tolkien edition, it's just the publisher's wording on these make them sound more 'special' than they really are. In fact, the 60th anniversary boxed set (w/ the Companion by Hammond & Scull) and the recent Alan Lee illustrated editions are nicer and more 'special' than these are. These are good reading copies, and are decent enough standard hardbacks. I've also noticed that this time go-around that they are much more adequately priced.

The info on these are as follows.

Special clothbound collector’s hardback edition of the final part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. This edition features the complete story with a unique cover design and the iconic maps appearing in red and black as endpapers.

ISBNs:
The Fellowship of the Ring: 9780008567125
The Two Towers: 9780008567132
The Return of the King: 9780008567149

Interestingly enough, there isn't a boxed set (there was when these first came out that included a matching edition of The Hobbit) nor does this style exist as a 1-book edition (likely these are meant to be the 3-book 'alternative' to last year's new 1-book edition). So the boxed set that consisted of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings may still be seen as a collector's item, as it doesn't appear to be coming back.


The Hobbit or There and Back Again

Speaking of The Hobbit, the ISBN of the matching edition of it in this format is 9780007487301.

I've noticed that the size dimensions of The Hobbit differs slightly from The Lord of the Rings on retailer sites. I am uncertain if those figures have been supplied in error, though we'll find out for certain once they've been published how well match The Hobbit from the initial batch.

If these stay in print, I'll definitely add them to my annual 'Tolkien Gift Guide' post (and may even gift them for a friend or two at some point in the future!). Definitely a decent for anyone who wants some Tolkien books in hardback, with nothing necessarily "special" (despite being called as such by the publisher) about them.

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