Lord of the Rings to The Hobbit: The Most Valuable Tolkien of All Time
Discover the most valuable works by J.R.R. Tolkien of all time sold at Sotheby’s
Readers have long been captivated by the magical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his groundbreaking works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien left his mark on the literary sphere, fascinating readers, scholars, and collectors alike. Tolkien’s popularity continued to grow with the success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies, sustaining interest in the original novels. Indeed, Tolkien manuscripts and first editions continue to fetch towering prices. In this article, we’ll explore the most valuable Tolkien works of all time sold at Sotheby’s, uncovering what drives their value and makes them perfect for collectors.
1. Middle-earth Manuscripts
On July 11, 2024, Sotheby’s shattered their Tolkien record with the sale of an extraordinary manuscript, which fetched an unprecedented £228,000. Autographed by Tolkien, this manuscript consisted of calligraphic poems, notes on the Elvish languages of Middle-earth, and included 21 related letters to the composer Donald Swann, all in the author’s hand. This historic sale proves that Middle-earth continues to delight fans and collectors alike.
2. The Lord of the Rings
The second most expensive Tolkien work was the sale of a first edition set of The Lord of the Rings, which sold on July 10, 2003 for £151,200. This complete set is a first edition, first impression, complete with its original dust jackets, and including illustrations and maps in each volume. A first edition complete set represents one of the most coveted items among Tolkien collectors. The excellent condition of this set also contributed significantly to its high value. As one of only a few such sets in existence, it commands a premium in the auction world.
3. The First Hobbit
Third on the list is a 1937 first edition copy of The Hobbit, which sold for £137,000 on June 4, 2015, becoming the highest-selling copy of this novel in Sotheby’s history. This first edition, first issue presentation copy featured an inscription by Tolkien, gifting the book to K.M. Kilbride, one of his former students. The copy also included four lines of handwritten Elvish, a rarity on the market, numerous illustrations, and remained in its original dust jacket, hence its success.
4. The Second Hobbit
Following closely behind is another first edition copy of The Hobbit, sold on December 14, 2021. This presentation copy was inscribed to the Liveseys, who ran a guest house which became Tolkien’s summer holiday home over a number of years, and the place where part of The Lord of the Rings was written. As one of a small handful of inscribed first editions, this copy fetched £107,100 even despite lacking its dust jacket.
5. The Third Hobbit
A third first edition copy of The Hobbit takes fifth place on our list, selling for $100,000 on April 1, 2014. The inverse of the above copy, it lacked any inscription by the author, but was in exceptional condition. Fun fact - the initial print run of the first edition only contained 1,500 copies, which sold out within three months of publication!
6. As Seen on Screen
In the documentary, Tolkien in Oxford, broadcast in 1968, Tolkien is seen writing the Elvish greeting ‘a star shines on our meeting’ in Elvish inside a copy of The Lord of the Rings. This second edition copy, alongside its second and third volumes, sold for £95,250 on December 12, 2023. It included a signed note with a copy of the Elvish inscription, a signed letter discussing Elvish script, and a note with handwritten translations of the documentary’s title into Elvish.
Now that we have reviewed the list of most valuable Tolkien works, it is evident that first editions and manuscripts are not only highly coveted by collectors and lovers of Tolkien, but they also continue to command remarkable results on the auction block and demonstrate his stable sales records. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a casual fan, the world of Tolkien collectibles offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of literature, and history.
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