Private preview — demonstration data. Nothing here is for sale; listings, prices and sellers are illustrative.

Solander

The Folio Society

The Hobbit

J. R. R. Tolkien

Hors-de-Commerce (artist proof)

Folio Society The Hobbit in clamshell

£780asking

Near Fine in Very Good clamshell

Condition, by component

ComponentGrade
BookNear Fine— very close to new, one or two tiny signs of handling

A touch of rubbing to head of spine.

Traycase / clamshellVery Good— clearly used but sound, with honest wear

Clamshell sunned along the upper edge.

Each part is graded on its own — the enclosure is the most damage-prone, so it never hides inside the book’s grade.

Disclosed flaws

  • Sunned spine
  • Bumped corner

Each flaw is photographed under raking light. Flagging wear is a courtesy — thank the seller for it.

Parts of this description were drafted with AI help from the seller’s notes and photographs. The grades, flaws and designation are the seller’s own.

Seller

colophon_kept

Established seller · United States

  • Established
  • Packs to Standard
  • Imported identity — heuristic
Listings completed
9
Condition accuracy
91% condition-accurate

Imported reputation — a heuristic, not verified by Solander. Reputation imported from eBay is a guide, not a verified credential.

Full seller profile — shipping, packing & ratings →

The Shipping Pledge

colophon_kepthas signed this copy’s pledge

A signed, binding commitment for this copy: dispatched within 3 business days of cleared payment, arriving in the condition described. If it’s late or doesn’t match, that is a Goods & Services dispute you can win.

  • Dispatch ≤ 3 business days
  • Condition locked to grade
  • Packed to the Standard
  • Tracked
  • Insured

Carrier: USPS / FedEx · Signed 2026-04-22 · read the full pledge

Shipping & customs, before you buy

Ships from United States

Typical transit
7–14 business days
Indicative shipping
US$45–US$90
Import tax (buyer pays)
On arrival, see below

Printed books are zero-rated for UK VAT (0%) — a genuine advantage for book buyers. No VAT or customs duty is owed on books regardless of value. The carrier may still charge a handling/clearance fee if the parcel is held for inspection; for books this is uncommon but possible.

Threshold: £135 is the general goods threshold below which VAT is collected at checkout by the seller. Books are zero-rated, so the threshold has no practical effect on tax owed — but above £135 general goods attract import-collected VAT plus a carrier clearance fee of roughly £10–£20.

What to expect

  • Even though books are zero-rated, some carriers run parcels through customs screening, which can add 3–7 days.
  • A commercial invoice showing 'printed books' (HTS Chapter 49) helps customs release the parcel quickly.
  • USPS First Class International is cheaper but slower (up to 4 weeks) and typically untracked end-to-end; use a tracked courier for anything over US$200.
  • Currency conversion adds unpredictability to the apparent landed cost when buying in USD.

Indicative figures for a tracked, insured book parcel — confirm exact carrier rates and current tax rules before committing. Solander is non-custodial; shipping is arranged between buyer and seller.

How you pay

PayPal Goods & Services

Pay the seller directly through PayPal Goods & Services — the only PayPal option with buyer Purchase Protection. Don’t use Friends & Family — it protects no one. Solander never touches your money.

Trade buyers: PayPal’s protection may not cover purchases intended for resale.