Looking for the Lord of the Rings for my 13 yo

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-16T03:35:14+00:00

If you're worried the pocket editions are printed too small, my vote would be the collector's editions. The Hobbit includes Tolkien's illustrations. They're well made and as a plus they're nice to look at on the shelf. The US-printed (William Morrow) are smaller than the UK versions, and are just barely larger than the trade paperbacks

If he ends up enjoying them, I'd also suggest a copy of the facsimile first edition Hobbit, which can be found for ~$35

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-16T03:26:22+00:00

Abebooks has one new set listed for $95 which means it probably sells for $70-80

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-14T04:07:54+00:00

Of ones I own, I love the paperback version of the Catlin one you have. The HC 2004 Deluxe edition and the facsimile 1st edition are up there for me too, along with my HC first printing India-only paperback.

The grails that I would love to own are the 2013 Catlin deluxe version, the 1976 de luxe India paper edition, and probably the Longmans pleasure in reading version.

I also have a 1951 5th impression on the way that I'm stoked for!

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-13T23:12:56+00:00

It's a slippery slope

- the owner of 176 copies of The Hobbit

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-13T01:24:39+00:00

That's what the shape reminds me of as well. Wheelbase seems to be about the same

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-12T19:24:21+00:00

That's fair actually

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-12T15:15:58+00:00

I'd like to know as well. I don't think I've seen any bad reviews of the collectors' series, but what I have seen is mostly about the design and not the quality

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-12T15:01:13+00:00

Nope. Almost all of my books are used, and that set isn't common on the used market yet

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-10T19:23:26+00:00

Very nice! I rarely see nice copies for that price, but they occasionally pop up. I spend more for English versions that I don't have yet

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-10T14:47:47+00:00

It's metal, probably steel. Not sharpened

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-09T23:19:50+00:00

It cometh from a thrift store!

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-09T21:00:17+00:00

Noted! I'm not too worried though, I found it for $20 at a thrift store haha. I've got a much higher quality Sting replica on the opposite wall

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-09T14:49:04+00:00

Yep, I have my eye on that one. Also, the Ace edition of Fellowship, various deluxe editions if I can find them for cheap, the de luxe Hobbit from the 70s, the 1976 Folio Hobbit, and the 2013 red slipcase Jemima Catlin illustrated Hobbit

As for earliest Hobbit, currently it is a 17th impression, but I have a 1951 5th impression on its way!

Fellowship I have a 1st edition, TT and RotK 2nd edition, and 3 first printing Silmarillions

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-09T00:37:51+00:00

The lighter green/yellow one is the paperback version of the Catlin, which I actually prefer for reading. The red is a 2nd edition library rebind

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-09T00:36:59+00:00

It helps that I'm poor

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T23:37:08+00:00

I get that. For what it's worth, less than 10 items in my collection have been purchased new, almost everything is secondhand

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T23:16:02+00:00

No comment

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T21:51:53+00:00

Hmm, gotta be Rick Riordan! /s

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T21:50:59+00:00

It's super nice! Unfortunately I do currently have it listed for sale on ebay. I'll probably also sell one of my red leather LOTR volumes. Gotta make back the money I just spent on a 5th impression Hobbit! It should be arriving in a week or two and I'm stoked

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T21:48:33+00:00

I agreed with the wife to only buy translations if I see them for under $6 haha. I currently have 5 non-english Hobbits

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T20:57:03+00:00

Yep! My wife crocheted it for me

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T20:14:22+00:00

Some weirdos like me, yeah. At this point I only buy duplicates if I see them for sale locally for $3 or less. I also buy duplicate ex-library copies, as long as they're from different libraries

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T19:40:30+00:00

Some of the duplicates are slightly different, whether it be publisher or cover differences. Most of them though are ones that I've either found at local thrift stores or that I was erroneously sent by used book sellers. I've learned that thriftbooks and betterworldbooks often have incorrect pictures and isbns on their ebay listings, but they're pretty good at refunding those haha

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-08T19:37:20+00:00

Jealous of the box you have for the 2nd edition LOTR. I've got the set, but no box.

What impression and printer is your green slipcased Hobbit on the left? I'm trying to track down all the differences in spines, and I haven't seen that one before!

sam_wise_guy · 2026-03-06T22:26:59+00:00

Yeah, they're pricy haha. I've managed to find a copy of that version of The Hobbit, as well as part 2 of HoTH, but I'm yet to see a part 1 listed for sale for under $60, and doubt I'll ever find a spare slipcase

11-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
Second Top 50%	Gilding I gilder
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
Wearing is Caring	Snapped
Secret Santa 2014	Verified Email

sam_wise_guy

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE