Sell or Auction Your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st Editions w 1st Dj’s for up to Over $100,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st editions w 1st dj’s that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Sell Your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st Editions w 1st Dj’s
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 children’s book The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.
Below is a recent realized price for a JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st editions w 1st dj’s item. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st Editions w 1st Dj’s. Sold for over $100,000.
Consign your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st editions w 1st dj’s at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your item to us at [email protected].
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
First Edition Set of Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” — “Fellowship of the Ring” & “Return of the King” Are First Printings; “Two Towers” Is Second Printing — All Three Are Near Fine
Very rare first edition, early printing set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954 & 1955. All three are in extraordinarily near fine condition for both the books and their original dust jackets. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. With signature mark “4” at the bottom of page 49. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Two Towers” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Return of the King” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Signature mark “4” present on page 49, and all lines of type sag in the middle. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. All measure 5.75″ x 9″ with top edges red. A beautiful set with only minor edge wear, toning to endpapers and very light wear to jackets. One of the nicest “Lord of the Rings” sets available. Sold for $14,588.

First Edition Set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” — A Complete Second Impression Set in Their Original Dust Jackets, With Maps Present
Rare first edition, second printing set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954 & 1955. All three books are well-preserved, in their original dust jackets and with maps present. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. With signature mark “4” at the bottom of page 49. Original dust jacket with price clipped. “The Two Towers” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Return of the King” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Signature mark “4” present on page 49, and type sagging in the middle. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. All measure 5.75″ x 9″ with top edges red, though red has faded for “Fellowship” and “Two Towers”. Apart from some light mottling to the front board of “Fellowship”, it and “Return of the King” are in near fine condition, both books and dust jackets; “Two Towers: shows some cocking to spine, sunning to backstrip and toning to endpapers. Overall a very good plus set, with excellent display quality. Sold for $5,775.

First Edition, First Printing of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” — The First & Scarcest Volume in Tolkien’s Trilogy
Extraordinary first edition, first printing copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring,” his first in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the most difficult to acquire as a first printing. Published by George Allen & Unwin: London: 1954. Volume is in very good condition, somewhat better than other first edition copies. Boards and top edge have retained the publisher’s deep red color, with only light discoloration to the bottom of the spine and corner of front board. Some toning to endpapers and front hinge starting ever so slightly. Fold-out map present and in fine condition. Enfolded in a facsimile first edition dustjacket, book measures 6″ x 9″ and runs 423 pages. Sold for $2,756.
Tolkien Signed “Lord of the Rings”
J.R.R. Tolkien signed copy of “The Lord of the Rings.” London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd. Later paperback edition. Octavo, 1077pp. Signed in black fountain pen, “J.R.R. Tolkien” to front free endpaper. Covers well worn and slight loosening to hinges, though pages remain tightly bound. Booksellers bookplate to interior rear cover. Tolkien signature clear and bold. Overall, book in good condition; Signature, excellent. Sold for $4,884.
J.R.R. Tolkien Signed Copy of “Tree and Leaf” — With PSA/DNA COA
J.R.R. Tolkien signed copy of “Tree and Leaf”, his collection of children’s stories written in 1964. Tolkien signs to the title page, “J.R.R. Tolkien” and also inscribes “for Fay Darrington”. Fourth printing of the paperback edition is published by Unwin Books: London: 1970, and features an illustration of the tree to its yellow, black and white cover. Runs 91pp. and measures 4.75″ x 7.25″. Light wear and toning, else near fine. With PSA/DNA COA. Not a Tolkien first edition but a rare signed Tolkien book. Sold for $2,916.58.
J.R.R. Tolkien Typed Letter Signed Discussing Piracy
J.R.R. Tolkien autograph letter signed. Dated 11 May 1966, letter referring to the piracy of his wildy successful “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” reads, “Dear Mr. Walker, I did receive the tape that you sent to me on 13th July, not the 3rd July, 1965. I regret not having acknowledged receipt, but it arrived just as I was becoming heavily involved in the business of combating ‘piracy’ in the United States, which occupied me most of the remainder of last year. I am afraid it has been wasted on me because I have not now got a recorder and am far too busy to deal with any such matters. If you think of going further with your settings, either making public use of your tapes or considering publication of the music please consult Messrs. Allen & Unwin, 40 Museum Street, W.C.1. I return your tape herewith with regrets that I am not able to make any proper return for your interest in my work. Yours sincerely, [J.R.R. Tolkien]”. Single-page letter on a sheet of Tolkien’s blind-stamped personal stationery measures 7″ x 9″. Toning, creasing and minor foxing. Very good. Sold for $1,944.
Gutenberg Bible Leaf 193 Chronicles of Old Testament
Scarce leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, one of the earliest major books printed from moveable metal type, the invention that ushered in the Age of Enlightenment by democratizing knowledge through mass production of literature. Printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany from 1450-1455, less than 50 complete or near-complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible are now extant, with nearly all those housed in public institutions. Singular leaves are also scarce, with the leaf presented here having been acquired by bookseller Gabriel Wells, whose purchase of an incomplete Bible in 1920 gave way to selling the individual leaves alongside an essay by A. Edward Newton entitled “A Noble Fragment”. Leaf is number 193 of the full Latin Bible, with the recto being the Prologue to 1 Chronicles of the Old Testament, and the verso the first part of Chapter 1 of 1 Chronicles. Each page features two columns of 42 lines in dark black Gothic type, accented by red and blue rubrication. Each copy of the Gutenberg Bible differs in its rubrication and illumination, with buyers at the time deciding upon these embellishments after the Bible was printed. The six-line rubricated letters of this leaf were likely added later, restored to match the original style. Leaf measures 11.125″ x 15.375″, bound on edge to portfolio measuring 11.75″ x 16″. Paper quality is still bright with very little foxing or discoloration compared to other examples. A stunning example from the book that changed the course of history. Sold for $136,500.
Rare first edition, first printing of one of the most desired books in the history of literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby,” published by Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York: 1925, with the nearly impossible to find first printing dustjacket. Every point is present: 1925 is printed on title page; Charles Scribner’s Sons logo appears on the copyright page with no subsequent printing statements; ”chatter” appears on page 60; ”northern” appears on page 119; ”it’s” is printed on line 16 of page 165; ”sick in tired” is found on page 205; ”Union Street station” is mistyped on line 7-8 of page 211. Bound in dark green cloth boards with title and author’s name blind-stamped to front board and gilt lettering to spine. Francis Cugat’s scarce original unrestored first printing dustjacket has the lowercase ”j” in ”jay Gatsby” on the back panel hand-corrected in ink. Sold for $50,000.
Ayn Rand first edition, signed copy of “Anthem.”
Hardcover with dustjacket. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, LTD.: 1953. Copy given to Nathaniel Branden, her purported protege and lover. Signed and inscribed by Rand in blue ink, “To Barbara and Nathan – – who are now fully my children – to mark your first six-months wedding anniversary – Ayn / July 14, 1953.” Book, which measures 6″x 8.5″, runs 105pp. Thinly-veiled sci-fi-ish allegory supports Rand’s classic Objectivist thesis regarding the subjugation of the ego for the greater whole of society. Dust jacket in near fine condition with minor chips at top. Slight cloth board spotting and very mild toning to interior. A near-perfect signed Ayn Rand first edition copy. Our most expensive Ayn Rand first edition that we have handled. Sold for $22,500.
Ernest Hemingway Signed First Limited Edition of ”A Farewell to Arms” — Scarce in Original Slipcase
Ernest Hemingway signed limited first edition of his post-WWI classic, ”A Farewell to Arms”, housed in its original limited edition slipcase, with numbers matching. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1929. Published on 27 September 1929 in a limited edition of 510 numbered copies, this being #214, signed boldly ”Ernest Hemingway” in black fountain pen. In matching slipcase with Charles Scribner’s Sons plate, again listing the limited edition as #214. Measures 6.5” x 9.5”. Some chipping to seams of slipcase, overall in very good condition. Chipping to spine label, otherwise book is near fine. Sold for $10,313.
Louisa May Alcott signed ”Little Women,” published by Roberts Brothers: Boston 1880. Impossible to find, the author’s signature within her masterpiece reads: ”L.M. Alcott” upon the fly-leaf. An Alcott signed instance of ”Little Women” has not been sold at auction in over 4 decades. First published in 1869, Alcott’s spellbinding novel about four sisters coming of age in the Civil War era has since become a classic. This edition is bound in hunter green cloth boards with gilt and black lettering and design. All edges gilt. Measures 7” x 8.5”. Surface loss to exterior corners and edges. Cracking to interior front hinge, with detached front free endpaper. A bookplate affixed to the front pastedown indicates this volume was gifted to the Brookline Public Library in 1917. In addition, the library’s perforated label appears at the bottom of the title page. A news clipping of Alcott’s obituary has been affixed to integral blanks. A label affixed to the rear pastedown reads: ”This book is for use in the library building only” and a barcode label has been partially removed from the rear free endpaper, else very good. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $8,908.

”To Kill a Mockingbird” Advance Reading Copy — One of Less Than 500 Printed, With Few Still Extant
Advance reading copy of Harper Lee’s ”To Kill a Mockingbird” with a letter by J.B. Lippincott Co. sales manager printed on the front wrapper. Letter reads, ”This first novel has hit the jackpot!…The novel will be published in July at $3.95…” Letter also contains blurb by Truman Capote. Previous owner’s name and address written in pencil to the front free endpaper, a former nun who bought for a religious bookstore in Boston. Copy is in very good to near fine condition; spine somewhat cocked, toning and light soiling to wrappers and overall light wear. It is estimated that between 400-500 advance reading copies of ”To Kill a Mockingbird” were printed, and only a handful are known to exist today. Sold for $8,098
Consign your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st editions w 1st dj’s at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your item to us at [email protected].
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your JRR Tolkien Lord Rings Trilogy 3 1st editions w 1st dj’s that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).











