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 About this ItemJohn 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: bad/ There is a previous owners inscriptions, name in pencil on inside front flysheet but no bookplates, no stamps. The original chrome yellow boards are in a bad way and no longer attached to the book. The lettering on the spine is visible but not exceptionally. The page block has some ragged pages but it is all there. The war economy standard paper used for this edition is preserved but not 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 familiar 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 children's 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. Title: The Hobbit or There and Back Again , UK ...Publisher: The Children's Book Club by arrangement with George Allen & UnwinPublication Date: 1942Binding: HardcoverCondition: Poor but complete.Dust Jacket Condition: No JacketEdition: 1st Edition It is important that you zoom in and look at all the photos carefully as they form an integral and important part of the item's description. The item is sold ' as is ' and what you see is what will be sent. Do not hesitate to contact for more information or photos and description.