First edition, ninth impression, in a ninth impression dust wrapper. 416pp, with a large, two=colour folding map at rear. Red cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering oh the spine. Top edge sprayed red. 8vo. A couple of minor indentations at edges of boards, very gently rubbed and rounded at corners and spine ends, cloth a little less than bright. Text block edges dull. Tiny spot mark on the front paste down and small chip on top edge of the front free endpaper else internally neat, clean, bright and tight. In its original dust wrapper, which states ninth impression at the bottom of the inner front flap. Dust wrapper worn and a little toned, rubbed and bumped all round edges with some loss and chipping around corners and ends of a lightly sunned spine. Dust wrapper now protected in an archival quality Mylar sleeve fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.
A newspaper clipping from 1955 containing a review of the The Return of the King loosely laid in, together with a second clipping from 1972 marking J R R Tolkien's 80th birthday.
