Hobbit First Edition by Tolkien J R R (46 results)

Condition: Like New. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind.

Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. This is a UK first edition hardcover published by Harper Collins in 2023 with a foreword by Christopher Tolkien. The jacket is Very Fine and unclipped (UK £45). The book is Very Fine with straight spine, sharp corners and firm spine ends.The page edges are stencilled to match the book design. There are two fold out maps inserted loosely at the front and back of the book. The copyright page has the number 1 present to confirm the first edition state.

Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: None issued. JRR Tolkien (illustrator). 1st Edition. Two limited editions, First edition, first printing - in new/unread condition. Still sealed in original shrinkwrap. For the first time ever, a beautiful slipcased edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, with the complete text printed in two colours and with many bonus features unique to this edition. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon? Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black & white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five colour plates. Tolkien's own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkien's creative process, and many additional sketches, coloured drawings and maps - although exhibited and published elsewhere - have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit. In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkien's enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure 'there and back again'. Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of Thror's Map and Wilderland, an illustrated 88-page booklet, and a printed art card reproducing Tolkien's original dustjacket painting. It is additionally quarterbound in green leather, with raised ribs on the spine, stamped in three foils on black cloth boards, and housed in a custom-built clothbound slipcase. The pages are edged in gold and include a ribbon marker. The History of the Hobbit by John Rateliff - FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING -Brand new deluxe edition of this definitive companion to The Hobbit, quarter-bound, stamped in gold foil with a unique design inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's own artwork, featuring a ribbon marker and housed in a matching custom-built slipcase. The Hobbit was first published on 21 September 1937. Like its sequel, The Lord of the Rings, it is a story that 'grew in the telling', and many characters and plot threads in the published text are quite different from the story J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote to read aloud to his young sons as one of their 'fireside reads'. Together in one volume, The History of the Hobbit presents the complete text of the unpublished manuscript of The Hobbit, accompanied by John Rateliff's lively and informative account of how the book came to be written and published. Recording the numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication, he examines - chapter by chapter - why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of Middle-earth. As well as reproducing the original version of one of the world's most popular novels - both on its own merits and as the foundation for The Lord of the Rings - this book includes many little-known illustrations and draft maps for The Hobbit by Tolkien himself. Also featured are extensive commentaries on the dates of composition, how Tolkien's professional and early mythological writings influenced the story, the imaginary geography he created, and how Tolkien came to revise the book years after publication to accommodate events in The Lord of the Rings. Endorsed by Christopher Tolkien.

Paperback. Condition: Near Fine. First Graphic Novel Edition . This is the first edition of the first part of The Hobbit in graphic novel format. Adapted by Charles Dixon and illustrated by David Wenzel. Inside the front cover it is inscribed, "To Karl Best Wishes David Wenzel."First printing. Inscribed by illustrator, David Wenzel. Soft cover.Just over ten inches tall and 6.5 inches wide. Wrap around illustration. 45pp., plus one page of advertising for Eclipse books.Near fine. A small bump at the bottom of the spine. Shelley and Son Books specializes in C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien & the Inklings. Full refund if not satisfied.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. HOWE John (illustrator). 1st Edition. Signed by the Illustrator, John Howe in Pencil to the Pre-Title Page. The Book is in Fine condition with a very light mark to the front board, no Dust Jacket as issued. This unread book is guaranteed to be a 1st Edition, 1st Printing. Publishers number 1 confirms that this book is a first printing. As stated, there is no Jacket, however, the book is protected by a 100 micron clear, removable archival protective covering. The book is professionally wrapped and packed with great care with bubble wrap and placed in a special book box to ensure that the book arrives at your destination in perfect condition. Inscribed by Illustrator(s).

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First paperback edition published by Puffin Books in 1961. Pictorial covers featuring an illustration by Pauline Baynes, some creasing and edge wear, square, secure binding, a few spots to the inside of covers, pages tanned, as is often the case with this edition, 4 page leaves with a small crease at the corner, pages otherwise tidy and free from inscriptions. Includes Thror's map and the map of Wilderland in the preliminary pages. Good condition.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 3rd Edition. Very nice copy, pages clean, only read a couple times. Cover has darkening to spine and rubbing in places, but one of the better ones we've seen overall. Printed cover, no jacket as issued.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Allen & Unwin 1976 first printing of the deluxe version. Fine book and slipcase. Gift inscription to front end page.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First deluxe edition 1976 published by George Allen & Unwin. Black covers, with gilt, silver and metallic red dragon design to the front cover, gilt lettering to the spine, speckled page edges, decorative endpapers, followed by Thror's map, colour frontis plus a further 12 illustrations by the author, Wilderland map at the end of the book, with outer box and tissue paper wrapper. The box has two variants, one with a slightly more matte finish, one with a more gloss vinyl finish, the latter being used here. Outer box tidy, front label is a touch tanned, with a little rubbing to one corner of the box, plus some spots to the inside, otherwise smart. The book has bright gilt, clean covers, square, secure binding, pages are bright and clean, and without inscriptions. Very good+ condition.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Allen and Unwin 1937 1st printing of the 1st Edition. We are thrilled to offer the now super rare Hobbit 1st/1st. This is a separate copy from my set of the first four Hobbit printings. We are not splitting up that set. These come up for sale so rarely we cannot say when we will see another, especially in the original jacket. Jacket covers have some darkening to spine, covers bright. The jacket would normally have some tattering to the spine head and top edge, but it has had some minor restoration, so looks as new. This is less than 5% of the jacket so not significant at all. One without repair would sell for 50% more. We know, as we are selling one. The book has slight lean, a little grubbiness to clothe edges, but clean overall with no foxing. This book is needs no introduction or description to Tolkien or first edition collectors. The Tolkien market continues to dominate modern editions in demand and price thanks to another round of films and other projects in the works. The price may seem high, but within a couple years we expect it to be even higher. The last copy to sell under auction about six months ago went for $300,000 dollars.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Allen & Unwin 1976 first printing of the deluxe version. This slipcase is one of the early ones and paper covered, not the vinyl later used. Extremely rare, thus the price. I do have a cheaper copy with normal slipcase material. I do not know when they made the change to the material, but I have seen less than 10 of these in 22 years of business. Book is fine, unread, cover and spine gilt is fine. Slipcase has some wear and tear, but solid. Label is quite clean.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Allen and Unwin 1946, 4th printing of the 1st Edition. War time paper book and jacket. Unrestored book and jacket, as good as they come for this now super scarce book. Book read once condition, a few light foxing spots in places. Jacket has a small paper loss to top right spine corner and several closed tears. Bright with no foxing. Outstanding original condition with no repairs and restoration. The early Hobbits used cheap paper for printing and wartime paper (recycled) is particularly delicate. You expect some minor amount of paper damage even with careful handling. I'm always concerned that flawless examples have extensive restoration even if not easily detectable and whether stated in their listings or not. As with all collectables: authentic, original real condition, warts and all, appreciate in value the most. Invest today! Note, this is not part of our first four Hobbits listing. It's a separate book for sale. We also have a 1st/1st for sale separately. The Hobbit First editions: Possibly uniquely in children's publishing, when The Hobbit came out in 1937, it contained quite a few things in that first edition that are much different to the book as we know it now in the second and later editions. Some of the changes were made because The Hobbit was being drawn into the larger stories in Middle earth and was becoming far more serious and darker. Firstly, in that first edition Bilbo at the Unexpected Party had sandwiches with tomatoes in them - tomatoes are of course from the New World, so Tolkien changed that in the second edition to pickles. Indeed, Tolkien spends quite some time in Letters explaining how potatoes might have existed, as well as tobacco - both New World varieties. In this case, Tolkien cleverly used 'taters' and 'pipeweed', thus obscuring the origin of the plants in question. The second and largest and most significant change was to the chapter 'Riddles in the Dark', where the last section of the chapter is completely different. Gollum, having lost the riddle game to the Hobbit, apologises profusely and offers to lead Bilbo out as compensation for the gift he would have given him (presumably the magic ring). He takes him so far along the tunnels, and then gets suspicious, and Bilbo then has to get past him - overhearing Gollum's talk to himself that reveals that the ring is capable of making him invisible. The Hobbit originally in 1937 had no link to Middle earth and the magic ring was just an equaliser device to give Bilbo some edge and extra powers to become 'heroic' when he was not brave or very resourceful. Since changing the text would have required all the metal plates for printing being recast anew, this was no small change.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Allen & Unwin 1976 first printing of the deluxe version. Book has been read a couple of times, binding tight, rubbing/scuffing to the cover and edges in places but these can't be seen easily without bright light, cover gilt is fine, spine gilt slightly faded in places to the lower half. Slipcase has a clean unfaded label with red title evident.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First American edition, first st. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST STATE, 1938. The first state of the first American edition has a bowing hobbit (facing to the left) on the title page. In the second state this device is replaced with a worn publisher (facing to the right). Tan cloth boards with the title in blue and a bowing hobbit in red.  310 pp. Map end sheets. Hammond A3b1. The binding is tight but there is too much wear to call it VG so it is good only. End sheets are dirty. Final end sheet has a moisture stain and a bookplate from the United States Naval Institute.  Some pages soiled. Lacking dust jacket. Shelley and Son Books specializes in C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien & the Inklings. Full refund if not satisfied.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. This is a German language first edition hardcover published by Georg Bitter Verlag in 1971. The jacket is Very Fine and unclipped / unpriced as intended. The book is in Fine condition, with overall straight spine, sharp corners and pristine pages. The copyright page confirms the publisher copyright dates of 1957 and 1971.

8vo., Sixth Edition, with fine full-page coloured illustrations, and monochrome drawings and maps in the text; green cloth, upper board blocked in gilt, gilt back, brown endpapers, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. Published to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Tolkien's masterpiece. THIS IS THE FIRST 'HOBBIT' WITH ALAN LEE'S NOW ICONIC ILLUSTRATIONS.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Text in Finnish. 331 pp. Moderate wear to the dust jacket First revised edition of Tolkien's famous novel is illustrated by Moomin author Tove Jansson. During her career, Tove Jansson also illustrated books written by other prestigious authors. The two most important of these were illustrated in the 1960s, J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. 1st Finnish edition. Illustrated by Moomin author Tove Jansson. Text in Finnish. 291 pp. Slighty smudging on the back cover and spine. Former owners name on the flyleaf. In a nice condition, light wear and slight yellowing to the pages. Lohikäärmevuori eli Erään hoppelin matka sinne ja takaisin illustrated by Tove Jansson - First Finnish edition of The Hobbit.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, Museum Street, 1937, FIRST Edition, Second Impression. Full coarse grain morocco green leather binding, with gilt titles and decoration, and five raised bands to the spine, gilt dragon to the gilt ruled front board, inner gilt rules to the leather turn-ins to the paste downs. With the original end papers bound in on to new paper (curling slightly), pages tanned with some foxing marks (see images), with some historically folded corners. Illustrated. Full dark green morocco housed in a green half leather clamshell box. First colour-illustrated edition, preceded only by the first edition, first impression. Only 2,300 copies were printed of this second impression, of which 423 copies in sheets were destroyed in the London blitz in 1940. The first impression of 1,500 copies had been published in September 1937 and had sold out by December. The coloured illustrations "had been commissioned for the first American edition, and were in the American publisher's hands when Allen & Unwin decided to include them in the second impression. The original art was called back for reproduction in Britain, then returned across the Atlantic" (Hammond & Anderson p. 15). Pagination: 310, [2]pp of adverts. Provenance: no inscriptions or bookplates Approximately 8 ¾ inches (22cm) tall (box), 7 ½ inches (19cm) tall (book). Condition Report Externally Spine fine condition bright and clean with gilt titles, five raised bands and gilt decoration to the base. Joints fine condition sound. Corners fine condition. Boards fine condition gilt dragon to the front board and gilt ruled border to both boards. Page edges fine condition all edges gilt. Binding very good condition attractive. See above and photos. Internally Hinges fine condition sound. Paste downs fine condition gilt ruled leather turn-ins. End papers very good condition new end papers with original map end papers mounted on to paper and curling, minor marks and foxing. Title good condition gently tanned. Pages good condition with some marks, and historically folded corners and some foxing throughout. See photos.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. The Hobbit First American Edition, Early State With Original Dust Jacket A Rare Early Edition of Tolkien s Classic This is an early state of the first American edition of The Hobbit, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1938. The title page features the seated flautist emblem, distinguishing it from the earliest state, which had the bowing hobbit. The dust jacket is present, retaining the original decorative elements, though showing wear. This edition includes Tolkien s four color plates and nine black-and-white illustrations, preserving the unique visual charm of the book s earliest printings. First American Edition, Early State Title page: Seated flautist emblem present, confirming a later early state. Maps: Pasted down, consistent with early states of this edition. Condition: The beige cloth boards are well-preserved with only minor toning. The blue lettering and red dragon motif remain clear. The pages show expected age-related toning but remain clean and intact. The maps at the endpapers are correctly positioned, as per early American printings. The dust jacket, while present, shows significant wear, including edge chipping, creasing, and some loss to the spine. The original $2.50 price is visible. This edition represents an important moment in Tolkien s publishing history, as The Hobbit made its way to an American audience. The presence of the dust jacket, even in worn condition, enhances its collectibility. This is an excellent opportunity for collectors seeking an early state of this beloved fantasy classic. A Beautiful and Collectible Copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien First Edition, First Impression (1937) A True First Printing of J.R.R. Tolkien s The Hobbit, Published by George Allen & Unwin in 1937 An exceptional and rare first edition, first impression of J.R.R. Tolkien s The Hobbit, the novel that introduced Middle-earth to the world. A rare and highly desirable first edition, first impression of The Hobbit, published by George Allen & Unwin in 1937. One of only 1,500 copies printed. Bound in the publisher s original green cloth with Tolkien s Mountains and Dragon motif stamped in blue to the front and rear boards, as well as to the spine. This copy is preserved in its original state without any signs of restoration. The green cloth shows general wear, with some fading and minor discoloration. The spine is slightly darkened, and the cloth exhibits minor rubbing along the edges. The corners are gently bumped, and the lower edge of the front board has a small area of wear. The blue decoration and lettering remain visible, though the spine s stamping is slightly dulled with age. The cloth shows minor handling marks, but no major stains or significant damage is evident. The endpapers feature Tolkien s signature maps, with Thror s Map at the front and Wilderland at the rear. The maps are clean and remain well-preserved, with no inscriptions, writing, or marks. The inner hinges are firm, with no splitting or weakness visible. The book maintains a strong and tight binding, with no loose or detached pages. The pages are remarkably clean for a book of this age. There is mild toning consistent with age, but no significant foxing or staining is present. The text is crisp and legible throughout. The book retains all ten of Tolkien s black-and-white illustrations, including the frontispiece The Hill: Hobbiton across the Water. The illustrations remain clear and well-defined. No pencil corrections, owner inscriptions, or library markings were observed. The fore-edge and bottom edge show natural age toning but remain clean overall. No signs of water damage or restoration were detected. An authentic first impression of The Hobbit, in its original cloth binding. A well-preserved copy with strong appeal for collectors and Tolkien enthusiasts.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Has been rebound on spine. Has one page wirh a small hole effecting a few letters. Has one page with a few small lines drawn under text on a page in end The map on last page and two last blank pages has been half torn. Has some small stains inside. There are stains on both boards. One illustration has been rebound back in.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, Second Impression, 1937 A near fine very clean unrestored copy. The first printing of The Hobbit was issued on 21st September 1937 with a print run of only 1500 copies. The book was an immediate success and sold out within months. The second impression (of which this copy is one), was printed in December the same year in an edition of 2300 copies (423 of which were destroyed at the warehouse of the binder, Key and Whiting, in the bombing of London on November 7th 1940) and was the first printing to convert four of the author's black and white illustration plates to color. These were initially commissioned for and later published in the American edition. [Hammond A3a.] We have only spotted one other second printings, one with a complete original jacket, listed for $56,000.00 (since sold); and then an inferior third printing withOUT a dust jacket listed for $12,500. Today first/firsts are selling for $140,000 and up in an original jacket. This unrestored book is in near fine/very good plus condition for the Second Impression. The boards have but a touch of fraying to the very lower spine edge and a few corner tips, otherwise the boards are remarkable condition and without any brittleness. The cloth is in supple condition, overall clean with spots of toning/aging. The book has sharp corners, one very lightly pushed. The binding is tight and square. The original end papers are present and clean and bright with no owner names, no inscriptions, no bookplates and no bookstore stamps, but with a few tiny illegible letters along the top edge of the front fly leaf. The internal pages are all clean, bright and flat with no handling marks, no bent pages and no stains. Very slight pale and occasional intermittent foxing. An overall very clean fresh unrestored book. Lacking the dust jacket. Please see all the images. A superb very early printing in very clean condition. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our ABE store for other landmark Fantasy and SciFi titles.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1942) The Hobbit or There and Back Again , UK first book club edition using the first edition, third impression sheets, published by The Children s Book Club by arrangement with George Allen & Unwin. Condition: a near fine copy. There are no previous owners inscriptions, names, no bookplates, no stamps. The original chrome yellow boards are in nice shape with a little shelf wear and light tonong to the spine. The lettering on the spine is nicely visible with just a touch of rubbing as shown. Internally clean with no illustrations coloured in as often found. The page block with a whiff of faint foxing spots as shown, otherwise unmarked. The war economy standard paper used for this edition is preserved remarkably well. The original dust jacket is not present. Publication history: In late 1942 George Allen & Unwin printed 1,500 copies of a third impression and 3,000 copies for the children s book club to be sold by Foyles. The sheets were supplied to Foyles unbound and they were bound in cheaper boards without the dragon design familar with the regular trade edition. Also, no maps as endpapers were used. As opposed to Tolkien s own beautiful dust jacket, an orange-red wrapper showing a fat, dandified Bilbo. Tolkien loathed the design so much that it was not repeated again and this book club edition has remained an anomaly in the early publication history of the much loved childrens book. Since the boards used are much thinner and the paper the economy standard it is difficult to find copies that have survived the passage of time in decent condition if at all since book club editions tend to be unloved or discarded. First and Fine.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. J.R.R. Tolkien (illustrator). Very Good Book in Good Dust Jacket. Fading to Spine of Dust Jacket. Some wear along fold of front inner DJ flap. See photos attached. First Dutch Hardcover Edition 1976 (previously issued in soft covers). Illustrations by Tolkien.

Illustrated profusely throughout by Tolkien himself and presented in the original publisher's binding - the rare, first ever deluxe edition of The Hobbit. First deluxe edition, first impression. Publisher's original black pictorial cloth with illustrative vignette of Smaug. With the original black slipcase. Both in near-fine condition. With the original 12 colour plates, and 2 double page colour maps, all by Tolkien. Published by Allen & Unwin, London, 1976.

A near fine first edition of Tolkien's The Hobbit. A book that really needs no introduction. Internally it is one of the freshest copies I have encountered. Seriously crisp, white pages. The dream! This copy also features a lovely facsimile of the original dustjacket. Now, ideally, we would have the original jacket but that does add a significant and rather heady amount onto the already high value of the first edition of The Hobbit, so facsimiles are often great ways to go for the collector who wants to push the boat out and get that dream book but doesn't also want to have to sell the house to buy it! Published on September 21, 1937, the first printing of the Hobbit constituted only 1500 copies and completely sold out by December 15th. Description and Condition: First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original publishers' green cloth. A near-fine example of the cloth and binding. Some small marks and blemishes here and there but nothing major. The spine is a little rounded and with minor shelf lean. Internally, the book is near to perfect. A lovely example of a very rare and very collectible book.