Reddit mentions of The Lord of the Rings (Millennium Edition)

So many people forget this. The 3 separate books are literally 3 volumes of one work, which is separated into 6 "books."

If you want to spend a bunch of money then sell a Collector's Edition divided into 7 Hardcovers (6 books + Appendices).

This doesn't include the Hobbit (sorry), but this has 6 books + 1 for the Appendices, which means it has larger words, and each book isn't very big. As well, this is the way Tolkien originally split it up - the six books are

• The Ring Sets Out
  
• The Ring Goes South
  
• The Treason of Isengard
  
• The Ring Goes East (sometimes The Journey to Mordor)
  
• The War of the Ring
  
• The End of the Third Age (sometimes The Return of the King)
  
  These are Tolkien's original desired titles for the split. When they are published in 3 volumes, the way they usually are, the titles in the parentheses are used.
  
  If you want a higher quality version (but also more expensive) of pretty much the same thing, I'd advise the Millennium Edition

If money is no object, the Easton Press editions of the book are the real deal.

If money is an object, or if you want just the LotR, or if you're like me and want covers that are a little less... busy... then I'd recommended the Millenium Edition. What's nice about this is that it's actually seven volumes: each volume is each "book" that makes up the series (i.e. books 1 and 2 are Fellowship) plus the seventh volume is the appendices and maps. Comes in a nice slipcover case too.

I like The Millenium Edition, which comes as a boxed set of seven hardback volumes.

It might be hard to find new, for under your budget, but it is a lovely collection.

I am currently reading the Millenium Edition which breaks the "trilogy" into 6 separate volumes. Each book in the trilogy as most people know it is actually comprised of two books. I think its really interesting to read it this way because you gain a different perspective on the story. And since each book is half as long you feel like you're accomplishing a lot more ;)