Reddit reviews The Lord of the Rings

Harper Collins has been coming out with Deluxe Editions of all of Tolkien's books, in a matched set with individual slipcases. I have two of the set and they are fantastic. The binding and paper quality are impeccable and they look great. In my opinion, they're the best versions of his books out there.

Lord of The Rings

The Hobbit

The Silmarillion

The Children of Hurin

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

Tales from the Perilous Relm

[Unfinished Tales](http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780007542925/Unfinished+Tales+(Deluxe+Slipcase+Edition)

Okay here are some good options:

4-volume 60th Anniversary Hardcover Set

Harper, ISBN 9780007581146

Amazon Link

This set uses Tolkien's original dust jacket designs, the companion volume is great for those interested (they're basically footnotes in a separate volume) and the smaller volumes are more comfortable than single volumes.

Single-volume 60th Anniversary Hardcover

Harper, ISBN 9780007525546

Amazon Link

This lacks the companion but has Alan Lee's artwork (the guy who did the concept art for the movies) - personally I'm not a fan of the slipcase but depending on your tastes it can look great.

Single-volume Deluxe Edition Hardcover

Harper, ISBN 9780007182367

Amazon Link

Fancy slipcase, some illustration, not as good as they used to be (they moved manufacturing to China at some point iirc) but still a good option.

Single-volume 50th Anniversary Hardcover

Harper, ISBN 9780261103207

Amazon Link

Older but some prefer the looks of this edition, this one's the first to have the corrected text iirc.

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All of the above feature the latest corrected texts, and generally the difference between versions aren't great anyway - so your decision should be based on what kind of aesthetic/budget/supplemental materials that you want.

I would however specifically recommend the 4-volume set (or the B-Format paperbacks) if your brother's going to collect the other titles too (Silmarillion, The Hobbit, the Christopher Restrorations) since those are the most complete format/trim with most titles available.

The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007182368/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NkETDb81S69PP

I have the this Harper/Collins Deluxe Edition of LotR (also the Hobbit book of this edition) and I would recommend it.

Its hardcover, its sewn (I'm not expert enough to tell you what kind of sewing or if its a kind of sewing/clueing hybrid - but I can see that its sewn) and in one single volume. The paper quality is good/decent. It contains some nice fold-out maps and pictures (of the Book of Mazarbul when they are in Moria - afaik by Tolkien himself?) -though no images/illustration.

The slipcase it comes in also looks very nice and the Edition fits together perfectly (dark green Hobbit, dark red LotR, dark blue Silm etc. - I also own the HoME in this Edition, though the paper is a lot thicker for LotR/Hobbit than it is for the HoME (there (HoME) its more like those Bible papers, but not quite as thin)).

I can very much recommend it. Though note that I was gifted the Hobbit + LotR version of these for christmas (since, just as you, I was looking for a decent version to replace my paperback), so I can't speak for the longevity/permanent quality of it yet.

Edit: ISBN for clarification: 978-0-00-718236-7

My favourite by far is the 50th anniversary edition of the LOTR. I have this copy of the Hobbit and love the art direction in it, that alone makes it a safe purchase.

My ex boyfriend bought it for me as a present, but I'm assuming this is where he got it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lord-Rings-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0007182368/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371810900&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=lord+of+the+rings+50th+anniversary+edition+hardback