Tolkien, Lord Of The Rings 1st Edition 1st Print Fine Binding, Signed 1954/55/55

A true first edition first impression set of The Lord of the Rings, by J R R Tolkien, published by George Allen and Unwin, London, with J R R Tolkien's signature tipped in, with a really fascinating and intriguing back story which shows how much Tolkien inspired others. Only 3000 copies of the first impression of The Fellowship of the Ring were printed.

The printers then broke down the typesetting frames for reuse, so when a second impression was required, it was a completely new impression. This makes the true first of The Fellowship of the Ring a genuinely rare book. The Two Towers had a print run of 3250. The Return of the King ran to 7000 copies.

It has the signature mark "4" in page 49, as well as the "sagging" text, which Hammond describes in his Tolkien bibliography as the First State. The book comes in beautiful half-calf clamshell case. Each volume is custom-bound to high specification in full red calf with the eye in the ring motif on the front boards that appeared on the 1st edition dustwrappers. Each board has a single line gilt frame. The spines are gilt with raised bands, gilt title and author to each, and the famous JRRT design to the base.

Inner gilt ferrule frames to interior, and rear boards bearing the binder's stamp: Temple Bookbinders, bookbinders to HM King Charles III. Internally the books are EXCEPTIONALLY clean, without foxing except for a few tiny spots to the final page of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, where the map has allowed air to circulate over the page.

There are two short closed tears to the outer edge of the final page of the Fellowship, not affecting text. The maps are intact, sharp and clean, though with a darker patch to the map in The Fellowship - please see pictures.

These books come from the estate of Bernard Anthony Rudden, FBA 21st August 1933 - 4th March 2015. A British legal scholar, Professor of Comparative Law at Oxford University from 1979-99. Rudden was a talented linguist who spent his National Service during the Cold War working for the British Intelligence Services deciphering Russian communications at Maresfield, East Sussex.

In 1953 he matriculated to St John's College, Cambridge, to study English Literature with the intention of becoming a poet. He did so for two years, during which period the Lord of the Rings was published. They are signed and dated by him 1954, 1955 and 1955 respectively. In 1965 he moved to Oriel College, Oxford University where he was elected fellow and tutor in law. Oriel College stands next to Merton College where J R R Tolkien was Professor of English Language and Literature until 1959. This is where a further Tolkien connection can be found. Included with the books is a letter written in an extraordinarily neat hand to Dr Rudden from a former student, Michael Forster. The letter is in Elvish - specifically Fëanorian. (A translation has been provided by the Tolkien Society). Clearly, Rudden continued to be a fan of Tolkien, and it is very likely, given his ability to read Elvish, that he was in contact with Tolkien after his retirement.

Conjecture aside, the letter is a fascinating example of how Tolkien's work lives in the minds of people far beyond other books. The bindings are tight, clean, open easily and are expertly done. In all, this is a really fine set.