TOLKIEN, J.R.R. "Lord of the Rings" [Ace, 1965] Pirated Edition, Complete Set VG-

"The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien [Ace Books, 1965]. Three volumes. Each volume with cover illustration by Jack Gaughan. Spines creased, light general edgewear, and mild rubbing to covers. Very Good-.

Unauthorized and now legendary, this is the notorious Ace Books paperback issue — the first American mass-market edition of "The Lord of the Rings," published without Tolkien’s consent due to a loophole in U.S. copyright law. These editions ignited the so-called "paperback controversy," leading Tolkien to publicly denounce them and call for readers to support only the authorized Ballantine edition. Despite — or because of — their rogue origins, the Ace paperbacks remain highly collectible artifacts of mid-century publishing history.