J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, 1966, First Edition Set, the last, Rare

15, 12, 11 Last printing of the first edition, same year as the new 1996 2nd editions. Of all the first edition sets, this is the most scarce. We can only speculate why?

They needed a new edition even though they had released this set around May of that year. Various stains and small tears, but jackets complete and above condition.

Books are clean and binding tight. A rare opportunity to add a unique set to your collection. First editions with complete unrestored jackets are disappearing every year.

We have been a professional Tolkien dealer for over 20 years. All our photos are the actual item! As Tolkien book collecting grows in popularity, the availability ofcollectible/investment original condition books and jacketsdisappears. It is not just the printing/edition that matters to thevalue, but that serious collectors want only the best condition. Books withdamaged jackets or even no jackets at all, are now increasing in price, drivingup the price of complete and better condition copies.

That's howimportant condition is to value. Unlikeother genre's, the market for Tolkien early editions is quite mature and wellestablished. It is not a matter of waiting for a better copy to come along. There aren't going to be any! There are no more hiding in the attic or charityshops.

People sell off their more worn copies when theyupgrade and now leave their collections to their children. We'vebeen a specialist dealer for 20 years. Some examples that were plentiful justtwo years ago are now completely gone or only the dregs appear.

First editions TheLord of the Rings and Hobbits remain the most in demand.