I'm not sure if Dogfark has changed the listing, but it looks like the picture of the slipcase he had up was to show the "vinyl" (which isn't) and he also has an image which probably shows a slipcase like emilien's copy (but not very clearly photographed). Seems like there were just two slipcase (or more) materials used in 1976, and Dogfark is trying to use (alleged) primacy of the his smoother version to justify the very high price.

Either way, none of these are vinyl. They are just slightly variant paper textures, which while mildly interesting probably have zero impact on value, now or in the future.

Abebooks.com (affiliate)

The Hobbit, First Use of Tolkien's Art

J.R.R. Tolkien

31031946053

(Hardcover)

$84.06

Availability: Not Available

Check at Abebooks.com

"Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Unwin Paperbacks 1969 printing. A little known overlooked collectable copy. First re-use of Tolkien's artwork on a book cover, the hard back dust jacket was the first. Ballentine used Barbara Remington's artwork on the paperback edition covers until this printing. Binding square and tight, page edges a little grubby. cover edges rubbed. Book cover looks dirty, but that is just the image. There were many subsequent printings, only 1969 was the first to use his art."

Anyone know what the seller is talking about?

It is not correct as this cover was first used on the paperback in 1966. I think the seller is confused about when this book was was first printed. It is the same seller as in the previous post from Stu.

Seems like a very confused/disjointed listing.

And not sure what the reference to "Ballantine" is about. Not that it has anything to do with anything but as far as I know Ballantine used the Remington covers until 1973.

remy wrote:

Seems like a very confused/disjointed listing.

Par for the course with this seller.

when you think you've seen it all, the most expensive bite on the market...

I would not bother with graded Hobbit comics, most of these comics are not graded. It is graded at 9.8 out of 10 to convince people that this is a rare comic and to vastly inflate the price. The higher the grade the more the grading company charge for the item to be graded.

The thing I love about this fine example from that totally-not-looking-for-mugs rare_book_cellar is that the copy is in such near fine and unfaded condition with no bumps or damage at all. Anyone who thinks this is just a crappy old $10 copy is an amateur.