On This Day in 1954: First Printing of "The Fellowship of the Ring"

On July 29, 1954, The Fellowship of the Ring was first published by Allen & Unwin, marking the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien's monumental Lord of the Rings trilogy. Seventy-two years later (to the day), the novel remains one of the defining works of the twentieth-century and a paragon of modern fantasy.

Following the remarkable success of The Hobbit, Tolkien devoted thirteen years, from 1939 to 1952, to writing what would become his life's masterpiece. At 1,192 pages, the completed work presented a considerable challenge for its London publisher, Allen & Unwin. Concerned about the cost of producing such an ambitious manuscript, the publisher elected to issue the novel in three separate volumes. The Fellowship of the Ring appeared first on July 29, 1954, in an edition of just 3,000 copies. It was followed by The Two Towers on November 11, 1954, in an edition of 3,250, and The Return of the King on October 20, 1955, in an edition of 7,000. Although Tolkien received no royalties until the books had recouped their sizable production costs, the trilogy quickly established itself as one of the most beloved literary achievements of the 20th century.

Upon the 1954 release of The Fellowship of the Ring, New York Times critic W. H. Auden wrote: “...if one is to take a tale of this kind seriously, one must feel that, however superficially unlike the world we live in its characters and events may be, it nevertheless holds up the mirror to the only nature we know, our own; in this…Mr. Tolkien has succeeded superbly, and what happened in the year of the Shire 1418 in the Third Age of Middle Earth is not only fascinating in A. D. 1954 but also a warning and an inspiration. No fiction I have read in the last five years has given me more joy than The Fellowship of the Ring.”

To commemorate today's publishing anniversary, we are pleased to present an exceptional three-volume set of The Lord of the Rings. Published by Allen & Unwin in London, the set includes first editions, fifth impressions of all three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring (December 1956), The Two Towers (1957), and The Return of the King (1959). Each volume has been exquisitely rebound in full black Moroccan leather, with blind and gilt decoration featuring a striking combination of Tolkien's iconic One Ring and monogram. The spines are richly tooled and titled in gilt and the books are housed together in a custom archival slipcase, creating a handsome presentation worthy of one of the greats.

This first edition set would be an exceptional addition to any fine library. Don't miss out on your opportunity to acquire one of the twentieth century's most influential literary works in a handsome leather-bound set!