The third volume of Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Believing they were legally in the right, Ace Books published the three-volume set prior to Ballantine Books' edition. But Tolkien and his British pubishers had not authorized this edition, so Ace had to pay a reportedly modest penalty and cease distribution of the books. Because of this, and because the set is technically the first US. paperback printing, copies are on their way to becoming scarce. This copy is tight and square; the exterior has modest to moderate edge wear and modest wear along the spine, light reading creases, small corner creases and a short tear on the upper front cover edge. The interior has just a bit of slight wear; the pages are toned and there are bookstore/price stamps on the first page. Still, above average for copies of this vintage paperback book.