Forum Auctions

Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression, frontispiece, 4 plates (3 in colour), illustrations and map endpapers all by the author 2pp. advertisements, spotting, occasional light creasing, ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, light browning to endpapers, original pictorial cloth, spine browned, spine ends and corners chipped and frayed, some fraying to lower joint, some foxing and finger-soiling to covers, [Hammond A3a], 8vo, 1937 [but 1938].

The second impression was the first version of the book to be illustrated in colour: the first impression had two plates only, both of which were uncoloured. A total of 2,300 copies were printed, and some 400 held at the binder's London warehouse were destroyed during the Blitz in November 1940.

Tolkien (J.R.R.) The History of Middle-Earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien, first editions, first impressions, frontispieces, some light marginal browning to later vol., original boards, dust-jackets, vol. 4 with small nick to head of spine, slight creasing to head and foot, occasional very minor chipping to spine tips and corners, a near-fine set overall, 8vo, 1983-96.