{"id":2991,"date":"2016-06-12T08:25:53","date_gmt":"2016-06-12T06:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/?p=2991"},"modified":"2025-09-07T00:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T22:10:14","slug":"mein-unikat-von-der-herr-der-ringe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/2016\/06\/my-unique-of-the-lord-of-the-rings\/","title":{"rendered":"My unique piece of \"The Lord of the Rings\""},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

In my last review, I already wrote about how I\u2019ve returned to Tolkien\u2019s books after a long time. I started with The Hobbit<\/a>, and of course, The Lord of the Rings<\/em> had to follow. Since I\u2019ve been spoiled lately when it comes to beautifully designed books, the question arose: which edition should I get? The plain, green, paperback edition sitting on our shelf certainly wasn\u2019t tempting. And since The Lord of the Rings<\/em> is not exactly a short read and takes several weeks to get through, the overall presentation had to be right \u2014 it should also be a pleasure to hold and to look at. However, finding a truly luxurious edition isn\u2019t that easy. So I decided on a unique copy. Where did I get it? That\u2019s a real insider tip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since the demand for Tolkien\u2019s books remains unbroken and has been reignited by the famous film adaptations, you can\u2019t really find any bargains here. An old, beautifully bound edition can\u2019t be had, as with so many other books, for just a few euros \u2014 they are still traded at high prices. The publisher Klett-Cotta offers several deluxe editions. One current version comes in multiple separate volumes, which I find rather bothersome, since there are also editions that combine all three volumes into a single book. Another edition, bound in leather, is available in a special limited edition<\/a> of only 1,111 copies \u2014 truly opulent and beautiful. But you\u2019ll have to shell out around 900 euros for it, which was a bit too much for me. Another disadvantage of these deluxe editions, aside from the exorbitant price, is the translator Wolfgang Krege. He\u2019s often criticized for his \u201cmodernized\u201d language, and for such a masterpiece I didn\u2019t want to take any risks. So I decided to go for the highly praised translation by Margaret Carroux (even though I didn\u2019t find Krege\u2019s translation of The Hobbit<\/a> bad at all).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So I browsed the web and came across Anna<\/a>. Anna masters the art of hand bookbinding and specializes in unique creations. On her website<\/a> and also on eBay<\/a>, she offers wonderfully bound deluxe editions \u2014 some richly decorated, bound in fine leather, with gold-embossed titles, color-coordinated bookmarks, and often with beautiful slipcases. Among them is The Lord of the Rings<\/em>, often in older printings, newly bound and creatively redesigned. Browsing the gallery and the archive on her website is a real pleasure. There are some truly stunning luxury editions that immediately set my heart racing. After visiting the website several times, I knew I was in the right place.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Here<\/a>
 Here it is \u2014 my deluxe edition of The Lord of the Rings with a dark red slipcase and everything I could wish for.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Based on the Klett-Cotta deluxe edition, which I already quite liked, I had a rough idea of how I wanted my book to look. White as the cover color, slightly pronounced bands, and smooth leather were a must. The placement of the embossed lettering on the spine of the Klett-Cotta edition seemed nearly perfect to me. The book itself should remain elegant and simple so that the form, color, and fine leather could take center stage. For the slipcase, I had considered a relief, but since that only makes sense for simpler designs with a reasonable amount of work \u2014 and because I couldn\u2019t find a suitable, meaningful symbol that could be executed cleanly \u2014 I decided to leave the slipcase unadorned. For a short while, I considered adding an illustration. I quite like circular embossments with an image in the middle. Anna shows some examples<\/a> of this on her website. But I feared I might grow tired of it and decided against it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The bands are clearly visible but not overly pronounced. The red edges pick up the accent color, which is also echoed in the bookmark ribbon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In the picture above, you can see the book without the slipcase. On closer inspection, you\u2019ll notice that it\u2019s not completely uniform \u2014 and when you hold it in your hands, you can tell it was made by hand. I love that unique charm: even though it\u2019s obviously new and flawless, it still radiates something special.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The endpaper features a beautiful red dragon pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I chose red as the accent color. In Anna\u2019s gallery, I discovered a lovely Polish edition featuring a stunning red endpaper with a dragon pattern. It looks elegant, high-quality, and very harmonious. Together with the red page edges and a red bookmark ribbon, the color scheme fits perfectly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Originally, I had actually preferred blue as an accent color, but since I absolutely wanted the Carroux translation, it was clear that I\u2019d go for the hardcover edition<\/a> from Klett-Cotta. That one comes with red edges, so red and white became the two colors of choice. I\u2019m not unhappy about it \u2014 the two colors complement each other beautifully, and the combination of red and white looks elegant and timeless.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The newly bound book is the edition translated by Margaret Carroux from Klett-Cotta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In terms of content, it\u2019s the complete edition<\/a> from Klett-Cotta, translated by Margaret Carroux. And since Klett-Cotta never skimps on quality, there\u2019s nothing to complain about regarding the thin paper or the typography. It was also important to me to have all three books in one volume \u2014 I generally prefer complete editions. I find it practical to have everything in one book. With the beautiful War and Peace<\/em> edition from Hanser Verlag, I\u2019m slightly bothered that it\u2019s split into two volumes. Though, to be fair, at a certain page count it becomes difficult to fit everything into one binding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The two maps are neatly stored in a small pocket at the end of the book.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Carroux edition includes two maps: one of The West of Middle-earth<\/em> and one of Southern Rohan, Eastern Gondor, and Western Mordor<\/em>. They are neatly stored in a pocket at the end of the book. Their somewhat simple design reflects their older origins. Yet, the sketch-like maps have a certain charm and evoke memories of my youth \u2014 a time when such additions still felt truly special.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Even with The Hobbit<\/a>, a second bookmark ribbon wasn\u2019t really necessary. In the Hanser editions, I always appreciate this feature since their extensive afterwords and numerous notes often invite you to flip back and forth while reading. The Lord of the Rings<\/em> also comes with a detailed appendix. However, I\u2019m not sure how often I\u2019ll refer to it while reading. Still, it had to be two ribbons \u2014 simply for the visual appeal and because it might actually come in handy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The two bookmark ribbons in the book\u2019s accent colors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As you\u2019ve probably noticed, this post is very photo-heavy, and of course, I don\u2019t want to miss the chance to share some impressions of this beautiful piece and my excitement about it. The entire edition turned out wonderfully. Anna\u2019s bookbinding artistry is superb, and the interior design \u2014 the typography, the runes at the beginning \u2014 sets just the right tone for a truly magical fantasy story.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The interior design is also beautiful.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The only downside is the sheer size of the book. Since I\u2019ll mainly be reading this edition on the train, I\u2019ll have quite a bit to carry around for a while. But I\u2019m already well-trained \u2014 I\u2019ve read Horcynus Orca<\/a> and S.<\/a> on public transport before, and in the end, it worked out quite well since I usually manage to sit or lean somewhere.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"The<\/a>
 The book is, of course, quite a hefty tome.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If I\u2019ve now inspired you to get such a beautiful book, I can only recommend taking a look at Anna\u2019s website<\/a> or her eBay page<\/a>. Browsing alone is already a pleasure. You can also get a sense of the prices there \u2014 some examples<\/a> are listed on her site. Of course, this kind of luxury doesn\u2019t come cheap, but it\u2019s far more affordable than the Klett-Cotta deluxe edition. The price-performance ratio is absolutely fair, though it\u2019s clear that such books mainly appeal to lovers of fine editions \u2014 and that\u2019s precisely the kind of reader I am. So I\u2019ll enjoy this treasure for a long time to come. I often walk past my bookshelf, pick up one of these beautiful volumes, and flip through it to relive those wonderful reading hours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Here<\/a>
 Here it is \u2014 my deluxe edition of The Lord of the Rings with a dark red slipcase and everything I could wish for.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my last review, I already wrote about how I\u2019ve returned to Tolkien\u2019s books after a long time. I started with The Hobbit, and of course, The Lord of the Rings had to follow. Since I\u2019ve been spoiled lately when it comes to beautifully designed books, the question arose: which edition should I get? The … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “My unique piece of “The Lord of the Rings””<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Mein Unikat von \"Der Herr der Ringe\" - lesestunden","description":"In meiner letzten Rezension habe ich ja bereits dar\u00fcber geschrieben, wie ich mich nun nach langer Zeit wieder Tolkiens B\u00fccher widme. Den Anfang hat Der Hob"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-art"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/hdr_beitrag_neu.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2991\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}