The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
Deluxe India Paper Edition 1969
George Allen & Unwin
London
SBN 04823091X
ISBN 004823091X (from 1972)
Hardback - Issued in a slipcase or box
Cover illustration based on a design by J.R.R. Tolkien
Page Ref.: pp.143-144 Notes
The map showing A Part of The Shire appears on page 30. The 1954 version of the map of The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age is inserted on a fold-out sheet at the rear. The Map of Gondor, Rohan and Mordor is inserted on a fold-out sheet opposite page 770.
Ten impressions issued before imprint changed:
1st Impression 1969 – issued in a slipcase
2nd Impression 1972 – issued in a slipcase
3rd Impression 1974 – issued in a slipcase
4th Impression 1974 – issued in a slipcase or box*
5th Impression 1976 – issued in a box
6th Impression 1978 – issued in a box
7th Impression 1979 – issued in a box
8th Impression 1982 – issued in a box
9th Impression 1984 – issued in a box
10th Impression 1985 – issued in a box
* Copies have been seen in both slipcases and boxes. In 1974 the slipcase was replaced by a box with a printed label on the lid. Presumably the decision had been made to replace the slipcase with a box, but
existing stocks of slipcases were used up before the change was made.
Details of the 2nd Impression are not recorded in later impressions.
A copy of the 5th Impression has been seen in a box that had a Lord of the Rings title label applied over the top of a Hobbit label.
One copy has been seen with blank pages throughout and two blank map sheets inserted at the rear. The binding design is identical to the published edition but the slipcase lacks the thumb slot present in the standard slipcase. This is possibly a salesman's dummy copy used to garner sales before publication, or maybe a proof version of the binding and slipcase. |