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2 Jul, 2014
2014-7-2 6:20:59 PM UTC
This copy of the Hobbit is quite hard to find, 2nd Edition UK 12th Impression from 1961.

However, if you are looking for this printing, then an example with the dust jacket should only be about £100 less than this seller.

eBay Item #191233275190
2 Jul, 2014
2014-7-2 7:29:08 PM UTC
I updated my previous post on the LOTR set with reproduction dustjackets, but to reiterate what I said there, here:

I was hasty in my reaction which was primarily to the pictures - the discontinuity between the repro jackets and the books underneath. I did not notice that these are all first impression books, which (in any condition) would certainly have value to collectors well above what the repro jackets cost.

To be clear, I have no problem having beat up copies of Tolkien's works on my shelves - in fact I do, for many titles and editions! I don't personally like having pristine reproduction dustjackets hiding the books, is all. I feel the same way about rebindings.
2 Jul, 2014
2014-7-2 10:01:30 PM UTC

Urulöké wrote:
I updated my previous post on the LOTR set with reproduction dustjackets, but to reiterate what I said there, here:

I was hasty in my reaction which was primarily to the pictures - the discontinuity between the repro jackets and the books underneath. I did not notice that these are all first impression books, which (in any condition) would certainly have value to collectors well above what the repro jackets cost.

To be clear, I have no problem having beat up copies of Tolkien's works on my shelves - in fact I do, for many titles and editions! I don't personally like having pristine reproduction dustjackets hiding the books, is all. I feel the same way about rebindings.


I must admit, I did think you had been a bit harsh (or that 1/1s of these were getting much cheaper)!

Still, it makes for an interesting (if accidental) experiment. Until you found these books happened to be the first printing, you essentially thought they were tatty junk. Being the first, they somehow ceased to be tatty junk.

Book collecting is an odd business to be sure.
2 Jul, 2014
2014-7-2 10:21:23 PM UTC
Stu wrote:
Until you found these books happened to be the first printing, you essentially thought they were tatty junk. Being the first, they somehow ceased to be tatty junk.

Just pricey tatty junk.

Seriously, though, book collecting is definitely an odd business. As my wife says, "well, I guess it's better than a lot of other hobbies you could have!"
3 Jul, 2014
2014-7-3 5:55:29 AM UTC

Urulöké wrote:
Stu wrote:
Until you found these books happened to be the first printing, you essentially thought they were tatty junk. Being the first, they somehow ceased to be tatty junk.

Just pricey tatty junk.

Seriously, though, book collecting is definitely an odd business. As my wife says, "well, I guess it's better than a lot of other hobbies you could have!"

That's pretty much my wife's take on it! I think her biggest beef is that she has to cart a whole load of books back from the UK every year or two when she goes back to visit family. My collecting these days is pretty much entirely on the few-dollars-a-pop end of the scale, which means international postage from the UK makes little sense most of the time (well, that and I'm broke!).
3 Jul, 2014
2014-7-3 6:05:24 PM UTC
Anyone knows in which book this version of "Oliphaunt" was published?

The auction just says that it "came from a children's book back in the 60's or 70's".

eBay Item #371025743858
8 Jul, 2014
2014-7-8 6:59:07 PM UTC
Somewhat overpriced.

eBay Item #181460126708
8 Jul, 2014
2014-7-8 8:55:12 PM UTC
Trotter, I agree. I almost posted that one. After all, it doesn't even have the dust jacket.
8 Jul, 2014
2014-7-8 9:34:58 PM UTC
9 Jul, 2014
2014-7-9 9:47:01 AM UTC
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