The Collection Grows

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I took this picture so I could post it here. That was a long time ago. But well, here it is, even though it's outdated now...

Geez, Helen, you have even more sets of LotR etc than I do. My books only take up two shelves!

I know what you meant about the doubles and triples, Morgul....I find they are handy to give as gifts to other LOTR-minded folks. (I have given a couple to another Barrowdowner of Li'l Mr. Wood/Frodo, for example....)

Any gift of Frodo is always appreciated, Stacey!!

Well, it would be impossible to photograph my books and all the other bits and bobs, as they're all over the house, but as my little figures are in their display case (cat protection) I thought I'd show 'em off. I've actually bought most of these this year - once I started I could not stop - all bargains, more or less! I told myself I would not bother collecting them if they were tacky, but I doscovered that they're excellent little figures, so...

Ah, Lalwendë...a fellow action figure collector! Aren't they fabulous?

I'm also trying to convince them that a sword is a perfectly logical thing to buy. Sort of working.

Encaitare, I think swords are perfectly logical...I currently own five: Sting, Hadhafang, Strider's Ranger Sword, Narsil, and the LE Andúril. There are a few others that I have my eye on, but (unfortunately) funds are not currently available.

[Lalwendë]

Alatariel - it was ages ago I asked about collecting the figures and you warned me that this would become addictive. How right you were! I do like those Armies of Middle Earth ones too, but it's harder to find a good rendition in these. You can buy a Fellowship set (which I didn't buy and have not seen since) and I have seen a picture of a Shelob's Lair set, which also attracts me because I like spiders!

I think one of the nicest things I have obtained was a handmade silver One Ring (not laser-etched). I have wanted one of these for the last twenty-odd years and finally found one - not underneath the Misty Mountains but on e-bay - it's well worth anyone checking it out for these.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Esty ,

Please let me know what you think of the Bates book. I was thinking of getting a copy.

I wanted to share my most recent acquisition. This was a big, big splurge. All summer, I watched as one of the dealers in rare books auctioned off books autographed by Pauline Baynes. Many of these were Tolkien; some were Lewis, Arabian Nights, or other fairy tales. This was done for a good cause: she wanted to support an animal shelter in the UK with needed funds. Most of the books went at prices way above my head. Then I saw this:



Here is the link: here

I had been saving money over the summer and hadn't spent any of it. My resolve faltered....and now the bookplate proudly sits nestled amid the first pages of Bilbo's Last Song.

In the meantime, I have sworn off e-bay....for at least one week.

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My other splurge is coming through my mom who knows how crazy I am! She has preordered the 2005 Allan and Unwin anniversary edition from Amazon in the UK as a holiday gift. It is to be issued in late October. Here is the description:

Special 50th anniversary edition of the literary phenomenon voted Book of the Century and the Nation's favourite Big Read. Includes revised and reset text and special features unique to this edition. This deluxe cased volume contains the complete text, fully corrected and reset, and features for the very first time the pages from the Book of Mazarbul, illustrations done by Tolkien and intended for inclusion in the famous 'Bridge of Khazad-dum' chapter. Also appearing are previously unpublished family trees and two, full-size fold-out maps. Sympathetically packaged to reflect the classic look of the original, this brand new volume will prove irresistible to collectors and new fans alike.

This sounds like something special, and I am looking forward to seeing the package arrive.

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Later Edit: Encaitare,

Regarding Starlit Jewel, which is issued by the MZB's estate..... The music is among my favorite, and also because I have had a weakness for Marian Zimmer Bradley for many years. (I have a signed first edition of one of the Arthur series, which I got when she came to a local bookstore long ago. She was a lovely person to meet.)

The reason they cost so much is that the Estate pulled them off the market for not having the right license. I've seen them go on e-bay for $100! I managed to get my own on e-bay for less than half of that, but still a lot more than $15.
I did it by having a favorite search for Starlit Jewel and the minute a reasonable "buy it now" came up in my e-mail box (it just happened to be a new one but I would have taken anything), I pounced on it. But the whole search took a good four months.

[Encaitare]

Thanks for the thread link, mark12_30; I will be sure to check it out! Seems like a very high-demand album I stumbled upon, huh? Thanks for the info on it, guys, I'll keep an eye out for it...

Alatariel-- You lucky, lucky thing, you! My dad's weakening about the sword thing... ::crosses fingers::

A couple more things I have!

- a beautiful map of Middle-earth that I just love to sit and stare at
- a popcorn bag with Aragorn and Arwen on it that I saved from the movie theater