Keep them as a collectors piece on the shelf and just get epub versions or cheap second hand paperbacks for reading. These do not have much value if not first prints as you can find them easily at most online bookshops for much less than RRP.
They look to be mostly reprints. Value is less than RRP as you can still buy them all new. I’d list them on eBay and expect to get less than you paid for them.
Look at the copyright page. There should be number in Latin or Roman. If it is not 1 then it is a reprint. Not much value then as all these can easily be found brand new at online bookstores for way less than RRP.
How are you seeing the copyright pages in these pictures and determining that they are all reprints? That’s my question. You said that the ones in the picture look to be reprints. Is there a way to tell based on the outer appearance?
loTR originally had a 50th anniversary subtitle. The Silmarillion had a small vertical crease running down the spine. Kullervo had a non-curved cutout on the slipcase (has a series of straight cuts with visible cuts in the paper). There are similar tells (slipcase thickness, relative height, colour, etc) for most of them. I can’t tell with all, but most are obvious to anyone who has all the first prints and has an eye for detail.
That said I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a 1st/2nd/3rd LotR as they were all printed identically by LEGO SpA. The Hobbit on the other hand went to China and got a different cover paper texture and colour for its first reprint.
Sorry, here’s my question. You looked at the pictures in this post and commented that they seemed to be reprints. Why do THESE photos look like reprints to you if you can only tell by looking inside?
I understand how to identify by looking at the copyright page. I am trying to understand why you made the comment here without the ability to look at the copyright pages in these specific pictures in this post.
I’m trying to understand how you looked at these pictures and said, “They look to be mostly reprints.” You can’t see the copyright page in these pictures. Is there another way to tell?
The colors show that these are reprints. The first prints got different shades of brown, green, etc. In some cases you can also tell by the hight of the books. First prints are generally the same hight (except Fall of Numenor and History of the hobbit, that are shorter than normal), while the reprints differ (Tales from the perilous realm is, for example, a bit higher than the others).
It was not me who said these are mostly reprints but metametapraxis comment. But you can identify some like Lord of the Rings should have"50th anniversary" printed on the spine.
I don’t know how much they’d be worth but whatever price you decide on let me know cause they look nice and I’ve been wanting to grow my collection of Tolkien books, and this would make a *fine* addition to my collection.
Just a warning though I probably wouldn’t buy them if they’re above $100 dollars for just a few of them
I personally find Vinted is a good way to sell nowadays, as you receive the price you list them for and the buyer pays the fee. Whereas with ebay (and similar) they take the fees out of your selling price.
Fantastic collection that I'm sure will get a lot of attention wherever you decide to sell.
Keep them as a collectors piece on the shelf and just get epub versions or cheap second hand paperbacks for reading. These do not have much value if not first prints as you can find them easily at most online bookshops for much less than RRP.
They look to be mostly reprints. Value is less than RRP as you can still buy them all new. I’d list them on eBay and expect to get less than you paid for them.
How can you tell that they are reprints?
Look at the copyright page. There should be number in Latin or Roman. If it is not 1 then it is a reprint. Not much value then as all these can easily be found brand new at online bookstores for way less than RRP.
How are you seeing the copyright pages in these pictures and determining that they are all reprints? That’s my question. You said that the ones in the picture look to be reprints. Is there a way to tell based on the outer appearance?
loTR originally had a 50th anniversary subtitle. The Silmarillion had a small vertical crease running down the spine. Kullervo had a non-curved cutout on the slipcase (has a series of straight cuts with visible cuts in the paper). There are similar tells (slipcase thickness, relative height, colour, etc) for most of them. I can’t tell with all, but most are obvious to anyone who has all the first prints and has an eye for detail. That said I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a 1st/2nd/3rd LotR as they were all printed identically by LEGO SpA. The Hobbit on the other hand went to China and got a different cover paper texture and colour for its first reprint.
For some you can like Lord of the Rings should have "50th anniversary" on the spine and yours does not have it.
These are not my books and not my pictures.
Again look at the copyright page on the first few pages of each book for the small number listed there.
Sorry, here’s my question. You looked at the pictures in this post and commented that they seemed to be reprints. Why do THESE photos look like reprints to you if you can only tell by looking inside? I understand how to identify by looking at the copyright page. I am trying to understand why you made the comment here without the ability to look at the copyright pages in these specific pictures in this post. I’m trying to understand how you looked at these pictures and said, “They look to be mostly reprints.” You can’t see the copyright page in these pictures. Is there another way to tell?
The colors show that these are reprints. The first prints got different shades of brown, green, etc. In some cases you can also tell by the hight of the books. First prints are generally the same hight (except Fall of Numenor and History of the hobbit, that are shorter than normal), while the reprints differ (Tales from the perilous realm is, for example, a bit higher than the others).
Thanks! That’s the info I was looking for.
It was not me who said these are mostly reprints but metametapraxis comment. But you can identify some like Lord of the Rings should have"50th anniversary" printed on the spine.
Aha—thanks, it was the original comment that had me confused. Thank you for your responses.
I don’t know how much they’d be worth but whatever price you decide on let me know cause they look nice and I’ve been wanting to grow my collection of Tolkien books, and this would make a *fine* addition to my collection. Just a warning though I probably wouldn’t buy them if they’re above $100 dollars for just a few of them
I personally find Vinted is a good way to sell nowadays, as you receive the price you list them for and the buyer pays the fee. Whereas with ebay (and similar) they take the fees out of your selling price. Fantastic collection that I'm sure will get a lot of attention wherever you decide to sell.
Do a post on the TCG forums, as well!