Tolkien Collector's Guide

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George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire
By Ulmo
Just can't stay away

George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire

Sep 27, 2018

And now for an off-topic (if welcome). Does anyone here collect first, limited, deluxe, illustrated, or otherwise specific editions of the Westeros books?

There’s a John Howe illustrated A Clash of Kings (2005, Meisha Merlin Publishing), and a Ted Nasmith illustrated A Game of Thrones (2015, Subterranean Press, in two volumes), but both of those are quite rare and expensive, as are all editions by those publishers.

There are two Harper Voyager slipcase sets (older blue edition and newer red edition). However, you never know if/when the next book comes out whether they’ll do a matching copy, which makes me rather shy of collecting these.

I’ll probably grab the trade illustrated edition of A Game of Thrones (0008209103), but for the full series I’ll wait till the next book drops.
Sep 27, 2018
I was about to pick up the earlier Blue slipcase versions when they were first announced but held off because as you stated "you never know if/when the next book comes out whether they'll do a matching copy".

Figure, once he actually finishes them then I'll go get a nice deluxe edition. Whether that's in the current red style or a new one who knows.
Sep 27, 2018
I have the blue slipcased edition, along with the illustrated and the red limited signed edition. Besides, I have the book I world of Ice and Fire, but I think you are not interested in it. Here is a picture. I hope it helps. If you have any question or you want any further pic feel free to ask for it :)


Sep 27, 2018
I am interested in World. I just didn’t want to clutter my OP. Thanks very much for the pictures! I must admit I am quite envious of your blue set, despite my airtight logic regarding future volumes.
Sep 27, 2018
The real problem here, IMO, is RR Martin, not the publisher. The last A song of Ice and Fire book was published almost 8 years ago. That is almost a decade, and the publishing trends evolve and change. I hope Harper Collins keeps the format, but well, a decade is a lot of time...
Sep 27, 2018

mboswi wrote:
The real problem here, IMO, is RR Martin, not the publisher. The last A song of Ice and Fire book was published almost 8 years ago. That is almost a decade, and the publishing trends evolve and change. I hope Harper Collins keeps the format, but well, a decade is a lot of time...


A long time? You haven't been reading the "available for a limited time only" messages on Tolkien Deluxes. A decade is nothing :)
Sep 27, 2018
I've been collecting the US trade editions since they came out - most are signed by GRRM from meeting him a few times on his tour events. I haven't gone for any of the deluxe or illustrated editions yet, personally.

Hopefully we don't end up with Brandon Sanderson finishing "the last book" due to unfortunate circumstances!

(p.s. I have nothing against Brandon, and GRRM is welcome to take whatever time he likes - I will patiently wait and see what we get.)
Sep 27, 2018
If the main ASOIAF story is completed, it will be the greatest fantasy epic since Tolkien. If it’s not completed, it will still be the greatest worldbuilding exercise since Tolkien, I reckon. And the original three books will still constitute a great yarn.
Sep 27, 2018

Stu wrote:

mboswi wrote:
The real problem here, IMO, is RR Martin, not the publisher. The last A song of Ice and Fire book was published almost 8 years ago. That is almost a decade, and the publishing trends evolve and change. I hope Harper Collins keeps the format, but well, a decade is a lot of time...


A long time? You haven't been reading the "available for a limited time only" messages on Tolkien Deluxes. A decade is nothing :)


Yeah, but the thing is Tolkien died a long time ago. A lot of books were published, a lot of editions, and we are still getting some works because there is a lot of material to keep producing texts. The key is that when he died, the main corpus of his universe was finished.
The problem here with Martin, imo, is that he hasn't finished this main corpus of his universe. And maybe he will never do it. 10 years from book to book, taking into account they are books covering the main story of ASOIF, is a lot of time, specially when the first deluxe edition is still waiting for the author to continue writing.
I am not sure I have been able to explain my point xD
Sep 28, 2018
mboswi wrote:

I have the blue slipcased edition, along with the illustrated and the red limited signed edition. Besides, I have the book I world of Ice and Fire, but I think you are not interested in it. Here is a picture. I hope it helps. If you have any question or you want any further pic feel free to ask for it :)



Which impressions do you own (if there even are multiple impressions)?

Who were they printed by (China, etc.)?
Sep 28, 2018
All of them were bought as they came out. Here there are two pics of the page with all this kind of info. I hope they will answer all your questions. Btw, I am assuming your questions are about the blue editions. They are books 1 and 4. ISBN ending in 6 and 9.

4689_5bae30602424a.jpg 750X1000 px

4689_5bae308070b34.jpg 750X1000 px
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