Reddit reviews The Lord of the Rings

This is the set I have

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618260587/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343519879&sr=8-1&keywords=lord+of+the+rings+alan+lee

(sorry I don't know how to compact links) This is the one I bought awhile ago. If you want a high quality set, this is a great one. This is not one that is built for being lugged around, but it is doable. I really love the Alan Lee illustrations, it is one of the big selling points. There are a good amount, and they are full colored and take up a whole page. The print is great and the set looks great. A very good set. However, they are pretty heavy

How about this big trilogy box set of the versions illustrated by Alan Lee? Be warned, the books are pretty tall.

I've had my eye on this one. Unfortunately things like rent get in the way.

My LOTR version is this one: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333996793&sr=8-1

I have a box set of the Alan Lee illustrated LotR hardcovers. This one. You want the set? Just cover shipping and it's yours.

I have the full collection

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587

here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376528900&sr=8-1&keywords=0618260587

I bought the set in question in 2012, and this is the link to the item's page from my order history: The Lord of the Rings https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618260587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2A2MAb4VAWVGD

I believe it's the same as the one you posted, so I say go for it! The price sounds right and the picture is accurate. Amazon's reviews have a way of getting jumbled. And if it's not right, their returns are a breeze on Prime-eligible items. Good luck! It's an absolutely beautiful set of books.

Okay, also I think I just found another set that looks tempting. I've heard a lot about the Alan Lee illustrated versions and was wondering if the illustrations make it all that better?

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=wms_ohs_product

Also, I'm looking everywhere for where I can buy this one below but I can only find the picture.

http://covers.booktopia.com.au/big/9780007522934/the-hobbit-the-lord-of-the-rings-4-x-hardcover-books-in-1-x-boxed-set.jpg

This 3-book hardcover edition beautifully illustrated by Alan Lee is goooooooood:
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587

I have these illustrated (by Alan Lee), and love them:

The Hobbit

http://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0395873460/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325269700&sr=8-3

LotR

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325269823&sr=1-1

I think I've settled on going with these ones: ISBN:9780618260584.

I bought the bottom books within the past year, all on the internet (Amazon and Books a Million).

Edit: links: LOTR, Silmarillion, Hobbit

I guess the first question is how much money are you planning to spend? I am no expert collector or anything, but I think the current LOTR version with the most correct text is the following - and as a plus, it is illustrated by Alan Lee:

http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780007525546/The+Lord+of+the+Rings+

The is also one which I am planning to purchase very soon, which I think at this point has the fully corrected text as well (might be missing a couple of typos) and is not fully illustrated - it does, however, contain illustrations that Tolkien intended to have included in the original book but were excluded for financial reasons (the dust jacket design from Tolkien himself and the Book of Mazarbul pages):

http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780007581146/The+Lord+of+the+Rings+Boxed+Set+

Finally, there is the following boxed set with illustrations from Alan Lee - which does not have either the fully corrected text or original intended illustrations. It is however, a very nice set.

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_2_twi_har_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468510148&sr=8-2&keywords=9780618260584

Finally, even though I enjoyed the LOTR movies, I am not fond of movie tie-ins as I feel it somehow "stains" the original work. However, they are wildly popular in the US. I would recommend to stay away from those.

I realize these options are not exactly cheap, but I think any of these would make for a memorable gift.

Ok, so I think I've found the right edition of the Silmarillion. However, I can't help but notice that despite there being two different versions of the Hobbit (the one with gold and the one without) the cover in the picture you linked is cropped differently than most copies I've found of either the gold one or the black one. That just threw me off guard a bit. I suppose if a website's stock image doesn't have the hideous gold edge then I can assume that I'll get the one with the black spine. I really wish sites were more telling in what product you'll actually get. I feel like I'm about to step on a landmine whenever I order a book online.

Anyway, do you suppose that this is the edition of the hobbit that goes with these editions of the LOTR and Silmarillion?

https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Hobbit-114th-20/dp/B00HTK1YPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469236620&sr=8-1&keywords=the+hobbit+alan+lee

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

https://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Ted-Nasmith-Silmarillion/dp/B00HTK3Y7A/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469237448&sr=1-2&keywords=the+silmarillion+ted+nasmith

Sorry for all the questioning, and thank you for being so helpful.