The book is an ex library book and possibly a library edition of the Hobbit - IT has NO front and rear maps I have researched this book to the best of my ability and have found that some library editions of the first printing of the Hobbit did NOT contain maps

A lot of libraries rebound books (these were not specific library editions). The Hobbit has the maps on the bindings and when the book was rebound the maps were disposed of with the original binding.

The author's name is wrong in the listing - it should be 'J.R.R. Tolkien'.

I noticed that too --left it to you to highlight though!

BH

My comments were based on a statement in the latest edition of Collected Books concerning first editions of the Hobbit. It stated that some first edition library copies of the Hobbit have been seen without the end maps. I revised my ebay listing to state that. Thank you for the comment.

I thank you people for the comments - I should have asked you to proofread my listing before I listed it! I have revised the listing on Ebay. I am now firmly convinced that it is a first edition The Hobbit that was a library copy that was rebound. The maps were likely discarded or covered over, but I still know that in the latest edition of Collected Books there is a reference to some copies being seen with no end maps. I have e mailed one of the authors of Collected Books and they taking a look at the pictures and description and are going to let me know what they think. Again - thank you for the comments.

Wayne Hammond (of Wayne and Christina, aka Findegil, who posted on the first page of this thread) wrote the book on Tolkien bibliography.

(J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography
Wayne G. Hammond
with the assistance of Douglas A. Anderson.
First Published 1993.
St. Paul’s Bibliographies, Winchester. ISBN 1873040113.
Oak Knoll Books, New Castle, Delaware. ISBN 0938768425)

I'd like to hear Wayne's views on the question of copies of the first ed. being seen without maps. I haven't heard of it.

Greetings,

I would like to hear his views as well.

I emailed Quill & Brush who publish the Collected Books Guide and got a reply that they will try to let me know something about this book. I would appreciate an experts point of view because I am certainly no expert on the subject of Tolkien books.

John Pollard

It was already in my watch list before you posted!

BH

Thanks for watching!

I got a bid of $700.00 for the book, but declined. If it doesn't sell I will keep it and wait for the movie to come out. There is a printing company locally that could reproduce the maps and a local book binder that could put them into the book. Obviously I would have to list the repair when I try to sell the book. I could also simply tip in copies of the map. I'm not an expert on Tolkien books - apparently there are a number of them posting on this site.

thanks for the comments

have a nice day!

John Pollard

Who!? Where!? --garm is Mr Pollard talking about you?

BH