J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit

George Allen & Unwin Ltd

1937

Complimentary shipping

Price:

International shipping available

Customs duties and taxes may apply.

Ships from: New Jersey, United States

Taxes not included

VAT and other taxes are not reflected in the listed pricing. Read more

Authenticity guaranteed

We guarantee the authenticity of this item.

Details

Up arrow

Description

First edition second impression and the first with color plates of The Hobbit, Tolkien's best-known work.

  • J.R.R. Tolkien (English).
  • The Hobbit or There and Back Again.
  • London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937.
  • Five plates (4 color), 8 illustrations by the author, advertisement leaf at end.
  • Bound in full dark green morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spine, covers ruled in gilt, Smaug the dragon gilt to lower right corner of the front cover, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, original cloth covers and spine bound in rear, original front and rear map pastedowns and endpapers bound in, by Bayntun.


Tolkien began writing The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, as a professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford University. Tolkien's creative perspective was born from a childhood spent briefly in South Africa and then rural England, a short but wretched tour during World War I, and an avid fascination with German philology. Although it was originally billed as a children's book, The Hobbit attracted a varied audience and has been wildly popular since its initial publication. Tolkien built upon the tradition of fantasy literature developed by George MacDonald, Lewis Carroll and the folk tales of Arabian Nights by inventing a new language—Elvish—and making it accessible for modern-day readers. Such creativity brought rave reviews for The Hobbit, which sold out of its original print run of 1,500 copies three months after publication.

Condition Report

Revive
Fair
Good
Star iconVery Good
Like New

No obvious signs of wear or use.

Dimensions

Height: 7.5 inches / 19.05 cm
Width: 5.5 inches / 13.97 cm

Feature(s)

First Edition

Language

English

Subject

Childrens, Novels, Modern first editions, Illustrated, Fine bindings, Young Adult, Literature, Prints and colour plate, English literature and history

Conditions of Business

Please note that the cancellation right for EU/UK purchasers applies to this item. Please read Condition 19 of the Buy Now Marketplace Conditions of Business for buyers for more information. Read more here.