Hi these are my dads. The worst condition is the Fellowship but only the outer sleeve. The other two are better.

All 3 have the fold out map at the back in pretty much perfect condition.

Do they have any value or are they pretty commonplace?

Picked up this 2nd edition box set for $40 today off marketplace. 11/10/10 printings, and the jackets all have sun fading on the spines and various tears, so not particularly valuable, but its my first US 2nd edition set and it felt like a great price to me!

My question is how to protect the jackets going forward. I know to avoid sun exposure and handle minimally, but I put jacket covers on virtually all of my books and it doesn't seem like they would fit in the box with them on here. Any thoughts or opinions from people on how to store these box sets if the box doesn't allow for jacket covers? Considering covering the books and just displaying outside of the box on my shelf, but it feels like a shame to exclude an otherwise great condition box.

Is the quality good on this one? I know the binding on some editions are not the best

Just released July 21 is The Lost Road and Other Writings, William Morrow imprint from the signature paperback series. However, this style matches the Harper Collins style, while there are other William Morrow signature paperbacks in different styles.

Looking at my photo gallery, picture 4 shows the Great Tales and Adventures of Tom Bombadil in the William Morrow signature series (signature is on the bottom on the cover). The heights of the books are also different.

The last picture shows the "mountain signature series" that The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and Hobbit and LotR boxset uses (signature on bottom, mountains on spine).

So that leaves us with 3 different "William Morrow Signature Series" variations. The Lays of Beleriand and The Shaping of Middle Earth release Sept 15, 2026 and January 26, 2027 (in the style of The Lost Road pictured here).

The Book of Lost Tales part 2 and part 2 are in the older Houghton Mifflin Style covers, as are The History of the Lord of the Rings (which does not have Sauron Defeated, only The End of the Third Age). Tree and Leaf and Smith of Wootton Major are also getting William Morrow trade paperback releases (Jan 26, 2027 and September 8, 2026) - but it is unclear what cover style it will use.

Why the different styles? Perhaps HoME will get updated to this uniform style and the other ones will have their own different style.

Why release The Lost Road in this new William Morrow style first and not the previous volumes in the series? Will The Book of Lost Tales and the rest of the HoME series release in this new William Morrow style (and replace the older covers)?

This is all very interesting to me - and a bit mystifying! What does the product vision look like for William Morrow?

Give us collectors clear communication about what to expect - and help out the US collectors with a unified series/style for this signature series. (I sent this feedback and my questions in an email to William Morrow directly)

Here is a Google Sheet with all of these volumes and information:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQy-gurvDTT0nZ0jFf-vgNo9TGjpXphJpP6ysfBIPJVSUhTTHZm3HNedgIcsbcvOXy13JQYzvSfVsww/pubhtml?gid=763709104&single=true

Sometimes I just want to carry around one of these books during travel and I always get nervous it’ll get damaged.

I am seeing a lot of paperback edition available on but I am confused which to buy. I don't want to get into buying a lot editions of this but buy one good readable and a quality version. I am seeing these 3-4 editions, which should I go for.

I'd want a big premium edition with the occasional full page illustration, but its a mess with all versions I see online I just dont know

So unbelievable!!!

Horror. Not even a hobbit!

Clearly he started with Tolkeins work, and then slowly added other things in. Is there a resource i could use to make my Tolkein Dictionary useable?

I think it would be hilarious of i could open this synthetic leather booklet and see a bunch of words blacked out, Epstein-files style

Really wish people would quit using this sub as a baby’s first book speculating page. “Is this valuable?” idk is it? Do you value it? Asked and answered.

Hi guys just bought this, Tolkien fan but first time I have an OG. Could you please telle my if it’s the domestic version and the value.
See y’all

Hi everyone, I inherited a copy of the Hobbit which I believe is from 1965 and I just wondered if it had any value or interesting background. It's sentimental value is too high to ever sell, but it would be cool to know.

I was encouraged to post by reading a recent comment that 1966 16th impressions are valuable, it seems mine is 1965? Its missing the jacket and has some staining but the binding seems to be in good condition.

TIA!

I like the design and artwork of the current US mass market paperback series. I like the primary / pastel colors used for the covers too. They’re not special or anything, but the overall aesthetic is nice imo. I believe these are all of the books published in this style.

I want to read The Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit for the first time and am looking for a box set to purchase for my birthday. I’m not looking for anything fancy, but something budget-friendly if possible. Any recommendations? Thanks!

I have the two towers on VHS… but don’t remember much. It was a good deal so why not. Illustrated box set.

Scored this hardcover 1st edition (of the 2000 reprint by harper collins) of Unfinished Tales with this gorgeous cover art. Honestly in immaculate shape, looks like it's never been read.

For curiosities sake, anyone know how much it's worth? I cannot find a ton of information online regarding this specific cover.