What edition is the best?

[The Wizard from Milan]

I probably need to buy a new edition of LotR. What edition do you recommend? and why?

[brownjenkins]

i always liked the cheap paperbacks 'cause they are easy to carry around and read... hardcovers are a bit unwieldy... but, if your the sit-down-and-read-in-one-spot-type, this might do you good (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618517650/qid=1135693091/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-1438894-2017718?n=507846&s=books&v=glance)

[durinsbane2244]

there's a set that're white with drawings of scenes on the cover, and each one has a fold out map in the back...don't know what it's called though...hardcover...

[Lotesse]

You know, that gorgeous hardcover looks too nice to refer to & have lying around for everyday use. I got my Lord of the Rings all-in-one paperback which I LOVE. It's published ny Houghton-Mifflin, and it's nice because you can open it & it lays flat - very good quality paper & binding. Plus, of course it has pages of maps. It was only $20 and you can get it at Barnes & Noble or also no doubt online. It's black, with the title in big gold letters with a picture of The Ring on the cover.

[mithrand1r]

If you have an opportunity, I would reccommend that you go to a library and see what edition they have on their shelves. If you like it, then it is settled.

You could also drop by a few bookstores.

I think it is a matter of personal taste. I personally would prefer a single edition copy, but three individual books would be easier to hold.

[Curubethion]

If you've got the money (about $70) or extremely generous parents :D , try the Alan Lee Houghton Miller edition. It's very nice, all-in-one, hardcover....
But a good budget choice would be a simpler hardcover all-in-one like Lotesse has.

[The Wizard from Milan]

Thanks to all for the advice!
I am of two minds (or several) and while I try to make up my mind I am reareading my old copy that has completely broken out of the spine

[King of The Istari]

I have Simarillion through to return of the king in Black Harper Colins Paperback, they look really good on a bookshelf together

but If I was to get a new one I'd get the 50th aniversarry hardback (that also helps if you wanna knock someone out aswell ;)... It's MASSIVE)

[Mercutio]

Yay for cheap paperbacks!

At our library's annual used book sale (they had thousands of books this year), I bought the Hobbit and the Fellowship for 50 cents a piece (very good/decent quality too, and not very old). I also got 12 other paperbacks brining me to a grand total of $7.

[Olmer]

For collection purposes buy 1 editions illustrated by Alan Lee or Ted Nasmith books.They will never go down in price. ;)
For working with text it is better to have regular format's paperbacks.You could make some notes on the book without straining to fit them in little space on book's margin.
Just for reading -any pocketbook size is pretty convenient and also unexpensive

[LadyHaleth]

I myself have two editions:
The beautiful red collector's edition (which I lovingly call the Red Book of Westmarch), http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395193958/ref=pd_sbs_b_1/104-4194190-2889513?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155,

and a ratty paperback edition that I've written all over and loved and taped back together numerous times.

So my suggestion would be to get another readable paperback edition, and then to save up and splurge on a beautiful hardcover edition that'll last lifetimes.