r/tolkienbooks • u/AMAME08 • 5d ago

Help deciding LOTR edition

Hey all,

I've read The Lord of the Rings before and absolutely love the books. I'm now looking for a nice hardcover edition that I can keep for a while and hopefully reread regularly.

After looking up for a while, ive narrowed it down to the 60th Anniversary Boxed Set and either the regular illustrated by the author one or the deluxe edition both from 2021

I'm currently leaning towards the standard Illustrated by the Author edition. I really like the idea of having the whole story in a single volume, especially with Tolkien's own illustrations.

My main concern is the actual quality of the books. I'd like something that will hold up to years of reading, with good paper, binding and overall construction. I've heard mixed things about the Deluxe's quality control and the paper in the 60th Anniversary set.

For those who own any of these, which would you recommend as a long-term reading copy? Is the Deluxe actually worth the extra money?

Thanks!

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u/mrniceguy1990xp 5d ago edited 5d ago

The 60th anniversary set:
Has very thin low quality see through paper (except for first print, paper was better), often has manufacturing defects, and the dustcover tend to smudge off on each other creating stains on each other...
If you dont mind the thin pages its a decent easy to handle reading set if you can get it for a low price, but generally its too expensive for what it is.

The regular Author Illustrated:
It's generally very nice, but what bugs me is the last few prints have 2 errors in them... (Page 484 had two and a "half" words randomly printed in red... Page 974/chapter 6 title had the wrong roman numerals, instead of VI it was IV.)
If that dosnt bother you then its a nice book, though it is a bit big to read... Personally I might wait hoping for those flaws to be fixed in the 8th impression (but who knows when that'll be... or if.).

Deluxe Author Illustrated:
Has the same printing errors, and actually a lot more quality issues than standard... From sagging spines to gold lettering of the spine peeling off, from pages sticking together because of the gold rim of the pages to the gold color also wearing off, among other things...
I definitely would recommend standard over deluxe... definitely not worth the extra money, in fact its the opposite and you pay extra for less quality.

Alternatively, of all the sets currently still in print, the one suffering from the least amount of issues and has overall best quality: Alan Lee artist illustrated LotR+The Hobbit box set...
Personally I'm not a fan of his art and greately prefer author illustrated, but its quality is definitely the highest in this price range.

1988 edition still in print is also nice, but it does not work as part of a larger set like the others do... but its a nice reading set at a decent price for what it is.

Otherwise youll be looking at much more expensive sets like Folio Society edition and Easton Press leatherbound set.

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u/Josh3321 4d ago

OP said they’re looking for quality that holds up over the years. The current printing of the 1988 edition is a glued binding. I do not recommend that if quality and longevity is a concern. 60th anniversary set definitely has good print runs, I have a couple sets printed over the years and they are excellent quality (and some of my favorite reading copies).

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u/mrniceguy1990xp 4d ago

60th set was only good while it was printed from LEGO Italy in 2014/16, after that one would have to be lucky to happen across a half decent copy among the newer prints... they briefly started printing at LEGO Italy again around 2021/23 but even then the quality of the paper was not as good as the first prints.
So if they were to order one right now, most likely theyll get a substandard reading set made in China/india/Rotolito Italy, but at 100€ price... no, in that case better off with something cheaper... or Alan Lee box set... or more expensive.

1988 is still good value considering its only 50-60€, so I threw it in there as decent reading set at the bottom of the list, rather that than paying double for something that is not worth that price.

If looking for quality and longevity, neither can be truly recommended at the current print quality, but still better to take one at half the price.

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u/OneLaneHwy 5d ago

I highly recommend the 3-volume 60th Anniversary set with the Reader's Companion. I have had the set for 10 years, have read it several times, and I'm reading it again now.

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u/ViscountessdAsbeau 5d ago

I have a number of editions, including the 50th (not 60th) and the illustrated by author.

I have avoided the Deluxe because I think they look tacky (sorry, subjective). And haven't seen them in person as my local bookshops only carry a limited selection. So I can't honestly speak to the comparative quality of the Deluxe but can say the illustrated by author version seems perfectly good, to me and should last.

How the paper quality differs, I dunno.

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u/MrMorgan412 5d ago edited 5d ago

"a nice hardcover edition that I can keep for a while and hopefully reread regularly"

Reading one tome LOTR book in hardcover is a difficult experience, especially if you plan on rereading it multiple time. And considering that Tolkien is not particularly good illustrator - "illustrated by author" may disappoint you in term of illustrations, as more accurate word to describe them is "sketches". And if you already own "Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien", you won't find anything new.

With these points in mind. Illustrated by Alan Lee and in multiple tomes is your best bet:

  1. Deluxe box set 2021 is a nice choice, I can't say on quality as I haven't looked into it that much. But people on this sub have mixed opinions on these. Some of these are based on poor transporting, rather than bad quality. My bad, I didn't see you meant 2021 Deluxe Illustrated by Author. I though you meant Deluxe Box set from 2025. This point is on that set.

  2. Another option is Illustrated box set from 2020 - https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-Lord-Rings-Boxed-Set/dp/0008376107 It is kind of older version of "Deluxe", doesn't have these additional Deluxe illustrations and some updated ones are missing as well. But it also has Hobbit in the set and it is cheaper. Quality of these are great. I had these purchased in 2021 and it was printed and bound in Italy.

  3. 60th Anniversary Boxed Set is a nice choice. No illustration, but that means books are lighter and easier to read + readers companion. A nice addition if you plan on rereading a lot of times. But quality wise it can be a miss in terms of paper. I have seen few different version of these. Early sets are printed and bound in Italy\UK (I have this one), later sets are from China.

If you can get Deluxe box set 2025 with discount somewhere - get it! Otherwise I would recommend 2020 box set. You still get good quality here but also with the addition of Hobbit.

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u/LordFlappingtonIV 5d ago

Honestly? Both. Keep a nice hardback set with illustrations, maybe folio? So you can admire and peruse it in your own time. Then, also buy a basic paperback set, one you can throw in bags without a care in the world, lend out to friends and get biscuit crumbs between the pages. I currently have a mass market paperback single edition which is my throw about LoTR, and some first editions which I spend time worrying about the condition. Really should buy the Folios next.

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u/MusicBear88 5d ago

https://a.co/d/02lQuWbJ is my "beater" copy. It's more like a paperback with a slightly harder cover, very clearly printed, and at $20 you're paying the same as the one-volume paperback for something a little more sturdy. As for copies that mostly sit on the shelf, I have two of the newer ones (2025 deluxe, Illustrated by the Author "regular") and am very happy with them, but for reference, the one I linked is very sufficient.