Up for auction is a rare and highly collectible first edition Dutch translation of J.R.R. Tolkien's De hobbit. Published in 1960 by Het Spectrum as part of their Prisma-boeken series, this was the first time Dutch readers were introduced to Bilbo Baggins.
​Item Details:
​Title: De hobbit
​Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
​Translator: Max Schuchart (who won the Nijhoff-prijs for this translation)
​Publisher: Het Spectrum, Utrecht/Antwerpen
​Year: 1960 (First Edition thus)
​Cover Artist: Cees Kelfkens (Iconic "stylized gnomes" artwork)
​Format: Paperback / Pocketbook
​Condition Report:
​Overall: Very Good for a 60+ year-old paperback.
​Cover: Colors remain vibrant. There is some minor shelf wear/rubbing to the edges and corners. A small area of surface wear is visible near the "J.R.R. TOLKIEN" text on the front.
​Spine: Intact and square with minimal creasing. The "PR VM" logo and title are clearly legible.
​Internal: The pages have aged to a natural creamy tan. The binding is firm, and there are no visible markings, inscriptions, or loose pages.
​Edges: The page block edges are remarkably clean for a book of this age.
​Collector's Note:
​The "Kelfkens Cover" is legendary in the Tolkien community for its unique, almost psychedelic mid-century aesthetic. First editions of the Schuchart translation are becoming increasingly difficult to find in this level of preservation.

Please see the high-resolution photos for a closer look at the condition. This is a must-have for any serious Tolkien collection!