The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, Book Three)

First edition, first impression, first state.  Publisher stated on the title page as George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1955 year of publication stated on the title page as well as on the copyright page.  No misprint or sagging text on page 49 (the misprint and sagging text had previously been identified by Hammond, Tolkien's bibliographer, as a first issue point but is now designated by Hammond as a third state point). No index (there is a printed paragraph on the final page which says 'We regret that it has not been possible to include as an appendix to this edition the index of names announced in the Preface of The Fellowship of the Ring'). In a first state dust wrapper, with no reviews on the rear inner flap. 416pp, with a large two-coloured folding map at rear.   Red cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering to spine.  Top edge sprayed red.  8vo.  Cloth a little rubbed and rounded at spine tips, and slight bow to upper panel.  Slight shadowing to unsprayed text block edges.  Faint strip tanning on free endpapers else internally neat, clean and bright.  Firmly bound.  In a worn and edge-toned dust wrapper, shelf worn and sunned to brittle over the spine, with some loss at the base of the spine.  Dust wrapper now protected in an archival-quality Mylar sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.