The Lord of the rings | 1954-55, a truly excellent first edition, first impression set, together since they were first published

This is easily one of the greatest first edition, first impression sets of The Lord of the Rings that I have encountered in my career thus far. An incredibly rare find, it’s a joy to have for sale. Each jacket has also retained the very soft off grey/green when first published. So many believe them to be white which they aren’t interestingly! Many went white over the years. An investment grade set of Tolkien firsts.

As each book in the series was published over a 15th month period, first edition sets of The Lord of the Rings have mostly being cobbled together over the past seventy years, long after publication, with collectors swapping in and out different books, usually as they look to build up the best condition possible for their set. There are pretty much no sets that can be said to have been together since day one. Originally there were no more than 3,000 sets in first impression available after the last book was published and we can expect 70 years later many have been lost to the sands of time, so the number now will be significantly lower. Collectible copies, as seen here, are seriously rare. Copies that are collectible that can be said with near certainly to have been together since day one are as rare as the one ring!

Now, other than the condition what makes this so intriguing is that this particular set was previously owned by Margaret Bennet-Clark (who later changed her name back to Carey, which one presumes is her maiden name), who worked in a senior role at the British Museum, a stone’s throw from the publishers of The Lord of the Rings, Allen & Unwin.

Now, each book in her set has her very neat name alongside a month and year inscribed (The Two Towers has a date as well). The month and year in each book tallies with the month and year that each book was published in the series. Now one can very healthily presume that Bennet-Clark inscribed these as and when she bought them. It would be highly unusual and unlikely to, later, add one’s name and then randomly the month in which the book was published (least of all as the inscription to the two towers gives a date 22,11,1954 which is just under two weeks after the first edition was published) when the books obviously already feature this. One can then presume that Bennet-Clark inscribed each as she bought them, which would mean this set has remained together since day one which is shockingly rare.

With first edition sets of The Lord of the Rings, most examples have been cobbled together over the past seventy years, long after publication, with collectors swapping in and out different books, usually as they look to build up the best condition possible for their set. There are pretty much no sets that can be said to have been together since day one. With LOTR, as they were published one after the other over a 15-month period, and in different numbers, there were no more than 3,000 sets in first impression available by the end and we can expect 70 years later many have been lost to the sands of time, so the number now will be significantly lower. Collectible copies, as seen here, are seriously rare. Copies that are collectible that can be said with near certainly to have been together since day one are as rare as the one ring!

Given the proximity of Allen & Unwin’s then office, being at 40 Museum Street, to the British Museum (a minutes’ walk at most) and given that they had their own bookshop with a window display, it is not unreasonable to assume that Bennet-Clark bought each direct from Allen & Unwin. Given all the information we have available, this theory is looking to be almost a certainty and seriously elevates this already stunning set.

Further to that, this is easily one of the greatest sets that I have encountered in my career thus far. An incredibly rare find, it's a joy to have for sale. Each jacket has also retained the very soft off grey/green when first published. So many believe them to be white which they aren’t interestingly! Many went white over the years.

Description and condition:

First editions, first impressions. 3 vols, 8vo. An excellent, fine set – a breakdown of each follows:

The Fellowship of the Ring: Original publishers red cloth in excellent, almost new condition. Seriously the best binding I have encountered on Fellowship. The red top stain is the most vibrant I have ever seen. The binding and book at this stage looks new. Internally it is absolutely beautiful, bar some discoloration and darkening to both endpapers. To the front endpaper we find the previously mentioned ownership inscription with the date May 1954. The map at the back of the book is in fine condition. This is a fine book. The dustjacket is beautiful and retains the slight grey/green from when first published. One of the best Fellowships one could hope for. 

The Two Towers: Condition is almost the same as above, in that it is excellent. Ownership inscription to the front endpaper with date 22.11.1954. The map is fine. The dustjacket again retains the off grey/green and is an excellent example. Signature mark ‘4’ present on page 49.

The Return of the King: Same as the previous. An excellent example.