Favourite Edition? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Firefoot · 10-03-2005, 07:15 PM

I'm one of those people who only has one copy of each of my books. They are:

On this page, the LotR copy on the far right (the blue one) is mine, though considerably more beat up than that. I originally bought it used because it was only a total of $10 (half off), and on my sixth grade wallet that was pretty good. I do like how it is all three books in one, even if it does make it unwieldy for carrying around. My dog has chewed the bottom of the spinding (glued it back together!) and scratched up the cover a bit, and one of the maps is taped back into the book from when I accidentally ripped it out. And the spine is broken through the "Passage of the Marshes" chapter and about halfway broken in the "Riders of Rohan" chapter. But I wouldn't ever sell it, even for more than I bought it for. It's a very comfortable sort of book.

I love the cover art on these books (mostly FotR) - Ted Nasmith is probably my favorite Tolkien artist. That was the first copy of FotR I ever read, so I've got a bit of a soft spot for those books. If (or when) I get another set of LotR books, it would be either those or these, which match my Hobbit book (the middle), which I love. Of all my books, The Hobbit is probably my favorite as far as cover etc. goes. I think that it's the only book I ever bought a copy of that wasn't the cheapest copy available, but it's my favorite paperback edition of the Hobbit -it even has that nice smooth paperback cover which I adore in books. (It's a close contest for all time favorite Hobbit edition with the far left hardcover edition. My friend has it - I joke that I'm going to steal it sometime.)

My Silmarillion is the middle one, and my UT and the versions of HoME that I have (I-IV) are all the same publisher/cover type.

And if I could ever afford it, I would love to have the red leather edition of LotR. Now there's a book that wouldn't receive the same abuse that my current edition has endured!

The Perky Ent · 10-03-2005, 09:13 PM

Quote:

I also had the "Silver Jubilee" editions back in the day, of which only The Hobbit, RotK, and the Silm have survived through the intervening years.

I love the ROTK one. One of my favorite ROTK moments

Quote:

I also have the "red leatherette" ("leatherette"?) boxed edition, but it doesn't travel anywhere with me, only sits on my nightstand for those few evenings when I have the luxury of reading time. I really like the maps in this one.

I use that one a lot, simply because it's neat, well organised, and contains all three books. Nice White Tree illustrations as well! As for maps, my best friend is this map book which has helped me a lot through the hard times! This thread is a constant reminded to archive the books I have

Hilde Bracegirdle · 10-04-2005, 03:56 AM

Aiwendil, it looks like you and I share quite a few of the same editions, even the UT (though I have now gotten a hardback as well. The last on that page.) I have also been eyeing the Nasmith Silmarillion you mentioned to replace the one I lost. Meanwhile have been making due with a paperback similar to Firefoot's.

Perhaps you and Mister Underhill should put the "Hippie Set" together and you each could take care of it on alternate years? ( I am curious now, if you might also share the same uncle!)

***Mister Underhill*** · 10-04-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

I had to read that twice. For, you see, I also started out with the "Hippie Edition", which was given to me by my uncle - except I still have Fellowship from that set, but not TT or RotK!

I'm beginning to suspect we're long-lost cousins, at least. How are the books-on-tape, by the way? I've been wondering if there is a good BoT edition but haven't taken the initiative to look for one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Perky Ent

I love the ROTK one. One of my favorite ROTK moments

Yeah, great RotK moment... Aragorn in a mauve cape, maybe not so much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilde Bracegirdle

I saw an another work that I assume is related on the Houghton Mifflin website's Tolkien page page.

Thanks for the link. I wonder what that other painting is from -- the Silm, perhaps? I don't know much about Palencar and what sort of materials he uses. I'm not normally a fan of such stylized images, but something about his paintings really captures the dark flavor of Middle-earth in a way that, say, the Herring pictures completely miss IMO.

Hilde Bracegirdle · 10-05-2005, 03:51 AM

Yes, I never cared for the Herring work either, or the Brothers Hildenbrant really, though they are very skilled artists. Herring's covers are too realistic; they don't feel like Middle-earth. Palencar’s cool palette on the other hand and his reserved style in these particular works is seems more appropriate.

***Mister Underhill*** · 10-05-2005, 09:04 PM

I've never been a fan of the Bros. Hildebrandt, especially this pic, which (dis)graces the cover of Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth. Legolas in that Santa's-helper outfit, Aragorn in that Three Musketeers cavalier getup, and that bizarre hat on one of the hobbits.

As for Herring, I'm pretty sure no Elf -- let alone Leggy -- ever suffered the indignity of a mullet haircut, except maybe the ones captured and tormented by Morgoth.

Lush · 10-06-2005, 01:06 AM

I'm a huge fan of the cheap Houghton Mifflin "movie edition," with a black rider on the cover, and various pictures of the fellowship on the back. It's part my admiration of the various charms of Mortensen, Bloom, and Wood, (Rhys-Davies not so much, I hate to admit) and part something else entirely. It's the copy I bought, with what little money I had, over winter break of my senior year in high school, when I sat down to read LotR for the first time. It travelled with me to class, to bed, and to various Charlotte coffee shops.

It has an inscription that reads "Natalia. December 2001- February 2002." That was a happy time in my life and I wish to remember it always.

However, I really want the fancy hardback with the Alan Lee illustrations. Just because. Maybe if I ever sell out and get a consulting job...

Great thread.

10-04-2005, 03:56 AM	#3
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Aiwendil, it looks like you and I share quite a few of the same editions, even the UT (though I have now gotten a hardback as well. The last on that page.) I have also been eyeing the Nasmith Silmarillion you mentioned to replace the one I lost. Meanwhile have been making due with a paperback similar to Firefoot's. Perhaps you and Mister Underhill should put the "Hippie Set" together and you each could take care of it on alternate years? ( I am curious now, if you might also share the same uncle!) Last edited by Hilde Bracegirdle; 10-04-2005 at 04:56 AM.

10-05-2005, 03:51 AM	#5
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Yes, I never cared for the Herring work either, or the Brothers Hildenbrant really, though they are very skilled artists. Herring's covers are too realistic; they don't feel like Middle-earth. Palencar’s cool palette on the other hand and his reserved style in these particular works is seems more appropriate. Last edited by Hilde Bracegirdle; 10-05-2005 at 05:00 AM.

10-06-2005, 01:06 AM	#7
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	I'm a huge fan of the cheap Houghton Mifflin "movie edition," with a black rider on the cover, and various pictures of the fellowship on the back. It's part my admiration of the various charms of Mortensen, Bloom, and Wood, (Rhys-Davies not so much, I hate to admit) and part something else entirely. It's the copy I bought, with what little money I had, over winter break of my senior year in high school, when I sat down to read LotR for the first time. It travelled with me to class, to bed, and to various Charlotte coffee shops. It has an inscription that reads "Natalia. December 2001- February 2002." That was a happy time in my life and I wish to remember it always. However, I really want the fancy hardback with the Alan Lee illustrations. Just because. Maybe if I ever sell out and get a consulting job... Great thread. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

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10-03-2005, 07:15 PM	#1
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	I'm one of those people who only has one copy of each of my books. They are: On this page, the LotR copy on the far right (the blue one) is mine, though considerably more beat up than that. I originally bought it used because it was only a total of $10 (half off), and on my sixth grade wallet that was pretty good. I do like how it is all three books in one, even if it does make it unwieldy for carrying around. My dog has chewed the bottom of the spinding (glued it back together!) and scratched up the cover a bit, and one of the maps is taped back into the book from when I accidentally ripped it out. And the spine is broken through the "Passage of the Marshes" chapter and about halfway broken in the "Riders of Rohan" chapter. But I wouldn't ever sell it, even for more than I bought it for. It's a very comfortable sort of book. I love the cover art on these books (mostly FotR) - Ted Nasmith is probably my favorite Tolkien artist. That was the first copy of FotR I ever read, so I've got a bit of a soft spot for those books. If (or when) I get another set of LotR books, it would be either those or these, which match my Hobbit book (the middle), which I love. Of all my books, The Hobbit is probably my favorite as far as cover etc. goes. I think that it's the only book I ever bought a copy of that wasn't the cheapest copy available, but it's my favorite paperback edition of the Hobbit -it even has that nice smooth paperback cover which I adore in books. (It's a close contest for all time favorite Hobbit edition with the far left hardcover edition. My friend has it - I joke that I'm going to steal it sometime.) My Silmarillion is the middle one, and my UT and the versions of HoME that I have (I-IV) are all the same publisher/cover type. And if I could ever afford it, I would love to have the red leather edition of LotR. Now there's a book that wouldn't receive the same abuse that my current edition has endured!

10-05-2005, 09:04 PM	#6
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	I've never been a fan of the Bros. Hildebrandt, especially this pic, which (dis)graces the cover of Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth. Legolas in that Santa's-helper outfit, Aragorn in that Three Musketeers cavalier getup, and that bizarre hat on one of the hobbits. As for Herring, I'm pretty sure no Elf -- let alone Leggy -- ever suffered the indignity of a mullet haircut, except maybe the ones captured and tormented by Morgoth.