A buyer should definitely request photos before purchasing. It seems like a competitive price based on the description alone
6 May
(edited)
2026-5-6 10:54:19 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-5-6 11:14:48 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-5-6 11:14:49 PM UTC
Edited by The late Stu on 2026-5-6 11:14:49 PM UTC
2026-5-6 10:54:19 PM UTC
Mr. Underhill wrote:
(Price is up there, but everything is these days)
Too expensive as a starting price, IMHO. Though a broadly similar copy sold at auction for £10,240 including premium (https://www.bonhams.com/auction/32104/ ... -and-unwin-1937-but-1938/ ) a month or so back. That said, I believe the buyer of that copy significantly overpaid, given the wear to top and bottom of spine. It just wasn't a good enough copy for the price.
The late Stu wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
(Price is up there, but everything is these days)
Too expensive as a starting price, IMHO. Though a broadly similar copy sold at auction for £10,240 including premium (https://www.bonhams.com/auction/32104/ ... -and-unwin-1937-but-1938/ ) a month or so back. That said, I believe the buyer of that copy significantly overpaid, given the wear to top and bottom of spine. It just wasn't a good enough copy for the price.
100% agreed on starting price, I would never pay this. What people are paying now is nuts really. I like to document all these first edition Hobbits when they come up for sale.
Mr. Underhill wrote:
The late Stu wrote:
Mr. Underhill wrote:
(Price is up there, but everything is these days)
Too expensive as a starting price, IMHO. Though a broadly similar copy sold at auction for £10,240 including premium (https://www.bonhams.com/auction/32104/ ... -and-unwin-1937-but-1938/ ) a month or so back. That said, I believe the buyer of that copy significantly overpaid, given the wear to top and bottom of spine. It just wasn't a good enough copy for the price.
100% agreed on starting price, I would never pay this. What people are paying now is nuts really. I like to document all these first edition Hobbits when they come up for sale.
The market at the moment is completely irrational. The question is as to how long it can remain that way. I can't think of any so obviously pumped markets that haven't collapsed, but there is always a first time, I guess. I think when very long-seasoned collectors start dumping their excess inventory, that is a good signal, though.
The late Stu wrote:
The market at the moment is completely irrational. The question is as to how long it can remain that way. I can't think of any so obviously pumped markets that haven't collapsed, but there is always a first time, I guess. I think when very long-seasoned collectors start dumping their excess inventory, that is a good signal, though.
I got asked that question today by someone, actually about when the market will flatten out. I think Tolkien’s popularity has never been higher, we’re always getting new accounts created here. I also think there’s external factors too, especially at the mid and high tier items. Fiat currency market instability and inflation have investors looking for places to store their money.
EARLY TOLKIEN POETRY - Leeds University Verse 1914-1924 [&] A Northern Venture -Flyer
J R R TOLKIEN, SYDNEY MATTHEWMAN, STORM JAMESON, GEOFFREY WOLLEDGE, LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE, HERBERT READ, E V GORDON ETC
Rare early poetry publications from Tolkien’s Leeds years in a volume containing three of his earliest published poems
Published in 1924 by The Swan Press & Leeds University English School Association.
£3750.00
J R R TOLKIEN, SYDNEY MATTHEWMAN, STORM JAMESON, GEOFFREY WOLLEDGE, LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE, HERBERT READ, E V GORDON ETC
Rare early poetry publications from Tolkien’s Leeds years in a volume containing three of his earliest published poems
Published in 1924 by The Swan Press & Leeds University English School Association.
£3750.00

A reasonable price — esp. as including the rare bit of ephemera — by today’s standards, it seems to me.






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