Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel), the Lord of the rings trilogy…

Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel), the Lord of the rings trilogy (1954-1955), a first edition set, two of the volumes in their first impressions, J.J.R. Tolkien, the Lord of the rings trilogy, comprising the Fellowship of the ring (first edition [1954], ninth impression, 1960, described in error as the eighth impression), the two Towers (first edition, first impression, 1954), and the Return of the King (first edition, first impression, 1955, in its third state with signature mark '4' and sagging text on p. 49 and 'Men' without a break on p. 281), Octavo, three volumes, George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London (the Fellowship of the ring jointly with Houghton Mifflin, Boston), in the publisher's red cloth with gilt lettered spines, in original unclipped dust jackets (each with the price as 21s, the two Towers jacket in its first state, the Return of the King jacket in its second state), each volume with a folding map printed in black and red tipped in at the end. Provenance: lady Theaden Hancock (1897-1960), Thence by descent to the vendor