The Lord of the Rings

6b, J.R.R. Tolkien. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1965. FIRST editions later impressions. The Fellowship of the Ring 14th, The Two Towers 11th, The Return of the King 11th.

Description

The Lord of the Rings, published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955, is the epic fantasy trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Set in the richly imagined world of Middle-earth, the story follows Frodo Baggins and his companions on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the dark power of Sauron. Combining elements of mythology, language, and history, Tolkien created a vast and detailed world that explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, courage, and the struggle between good and evil. The trilogy has become one of the most influential works of modern fantasy literature, shaping the genre for generations of readers and writers.

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was an English scholar, philologist, and author whose academic background in language and medieval literature deeply informed his writing. A professor at Oxford University, Tolkien developed complex languages, histories, and mythologies that underpin his fictional world, giving his stories a depth and realism that set them apart from earlier fantasy works. His writings, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, have achieved worldwide recognition and remain central to the development of modern fantasy literature.

The initial print runs were relatively modest, and demand for the trilogy grew steadily following publication. As a result, early impressions—while not always first printings—represent the formative period of the work’s publication history, before the widespread popularity it achieved in later decades. Copies from these early printings are valued for their proximity to the original publication and their place in the early reception of Tolkien’s now-classic trilogy.

Notes

Red hardback cloth binding, slight bending to four corners, dust jackets, very slight chipping to dust jackets, toning to dust jackets, intact, very good condition.