Audio and Video Materials >> Tasmanian woman lists 1937 edition of The Hobbit for sale after finding it in an op shop 31 years ag
Tasmanian woman lists 1937 edition of The Hobbit for sale after finding it in an op shop 31 years ag
22 Oct, 2025
2025-10-22 9:02:32 AM UTC
2025-10-22 9:02:32 AM UTC
Renee Woodleigh is a keen op-shopper and was browsing a Vinnies in Huonville 31 years ago when she came across what she believed to be a first edition of The Hobbit.
She tells Joel Rheinberger on Tasmania Afternoons she knew she'd found something special, and reflects on one thing she did that reduced its value "three fold".
The book was given to a student as a prize for French in December 1937, the year the book was first printed.
Ms Woodleigh has listed the book for less than it may be worth, but admits she's "a bit of a novice".
"I have a friend who needs some help, so I was hoping to help them and some of the proceeds from the book I would like to donate back to the op shop and also to the school where the book was won as a prize back in December of 1937," she says.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs ... olkein-for-sale/105921222
DMRoberts wrote:
Written article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-22 ... kien-the-hobbit/105921072 listed for $44k (Australian). The author of this piece is not sure if it is first or second impression. Can people tell from the photos above? If it can be confirmed I can ping the journalist.
It is a first printing.
The second printing title page states the second print run of the same year, which is absent here. See the attached images of the two copyright pages for comparison.
Also see our article on 1st Edition UK Hobbits
https://www.tolkienguide.com/articles/
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