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The Hobbit JRR Tolkien Houghton Mifflin 1951 5th Printing Type 5a HC DJ

397722573046

Seller: brengber

(4072)

Ended Mar 16, 2026

Buy-It-Now:

$1,600.00

5th HMCO printing, 1st State.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ewtopic.php?topic_id=5048

Yeah, i & e are frequently spaced but e and n usually aren't.
I agree with Mr. Underhill, very unusual signature to say the least.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Trotter wrote:

Pulch wrote:

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“The Hobbit “1961 First Edition PB Book Puffin SIGNED by JRR TOLKIEN RARE

147190883643

Seller: penguinbooks2011

(1571)

Buy-It-Now:

£14,500.00

I'm only aware of one known signed copy of this book by Tolkien, that was for Allen Lane, who asked all contributors to Penguin and Puffin books to sign a copy for him, as founder of the company.

Tolkien did not like the book, but did like the cover, so it was not a book that he was likely to sign.

Agreed on all points here, not to mention I've never seen a J in his signature look like this. Also the e & n in "Tolkien" are spaced which you don't really ever see. This is not a real signature IMO.

The "J" looks re-worked. I don't think it is real.

The late Stu wrote:

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Trotter wrote:

Pulch wrote:

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated

“The Hobbit “1961 First Edition PB Book Puffin SIGNED by JRR TOLKIEN RARE

147190883643

Seller: penguinbooks2011

(1571)

Buy-It-Now:

£14,500.00

I'm only aware of one known signed copy of this book by Tolkien, that was for Allen Lane, who asked all contributors to Penguin and Puffin books to sign a copy for him, as founder of the company.

Tolkien did not like the book, but did like the cover, so it was not a book that he was likely to sign.

Agreed on all points here, not to mention I've never seen a J in his signature look like this. Also the e & n in "Tolkien" are spaced which you don't really ever see. This is not a real signature IMO.

The "J" looks re-worked. I don't think it is real.

Totally agree—that J looks terrible.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated

The Hobbit JRR Tolkien Houghton Mifflin 1951 5th Printing Type 5a HC DJ

397722573046

Seller: brengber

(4072)

Ended Mar 16, 2026

Buy-It-Now:

$1,600.00

5th HMCO printing, 1st State.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ewtopic.php?topic_id=5048

I wasn’t surprised to see this sell quickly. Reasonable price, I thought. I briefly considered it!

The late Stu wrote:

Mr. Underhill wrote:

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated

The Hobbit JRR Tolkien Houghton Mifflin 1951 5th Printing Type 5a HC DJ

397722573046

Seller: brengber

(4072)

Ended Mar 16, 2026

Buy-It-Now:

$1,600.00

5th HMCO printing, 1st State.

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ewtopic.php?topic_id=5048

I wasn’t surprised to see this sell quickly. Reasonable price, I thought. I briefly considered it!

Yes, the 5th HMCO prints with jacket almost never come up. I think the last one to appear was the one I bought and that is going on seven years or so now...

Could be interesting especially if your name is Scott.

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated

J.R.R. Tolkien Signed Personalized Alan Lee Illustrated Hardcover Boxed Set 2002

157761252961

Seller: swedwards1960

(559)

Ended Mar 24, 2026

$272.31

The late Stu wrote:

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Trotter wrote:

Pulch wrote:
This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated
“The Hobbit “1961 First Edition PB Book Puffin SIGNED by JRR TOLKIEN RARE
147190883643
Seller: penguinbooks2011
(1571)
Buy-It-Now:
£14,500.00


I'm only aware of one known signed copy of this book by Tolkien, that was for Allen Lane, who asked all contributors to Penguin and Puffin books to sign a copy for him, as founder of the company.

Tolkien did not like the book, but did like the cover, so it was not a book that he was likely to sign.


Agreed on all points here, not to mention I've never seen a J in his signature look like this. Also the e & n in "Tolkien" are spaced which you don't really ever see. This is not a real signature IMO.


The "J" looks re-worked. I don't think it is real.


Totally agree—that J looks terrible.


The signature,a quick signature dashed off with ball point, at first glance looks OK to me IMO but without reasonable provenance the price is vastly inflated.

And,yes,Tolkien unlikely to have signed another Puffin paperback.

On second glance,the 'T' looks and feels wrong.