- A first-edition Hobbit sold for £43,000 at Auctioneum.
- The copy lacked its dust jacket but was in excellent condition.
- Only a few hundred 1937 first editions are believed to survive.
A rare first-edition copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit recently sold for $57,000 (£43,000) at Auctioneum in the U.K. One of the staff members found it on a bookshelf in the Bristol home of a recently deceased owner during a seemingly routine estate valuation. The book was initially valued at around £12,000 and surged during bidding.
Auctioneum book specialist Caitlin Riley said the volume first caught her attention as she worked through a “run-of-the-mill bookcase.” “It was clearly an early Hobbit at first glance, so I just pulled it out and began to flick through it, never expecting it to be a true first edition,” she said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes! There are a few key details to look out for when spotting one of the first editions, and as I looked into each one, they were all there. When I realized what it was, my heart began pounding.”
Printed in 1937 by George Allen & Unwin, the first run of The Hobbit totaled 1,500 copies, and only a few hundred are believed to survive, per Auctioneum. The recently discovered copy lacks its original dust jacket and shows slight spine discoloration, yet Riley described its interior to one news outlet as in “absolutely beautiful condition.” As a children’s fantasy title, many early copies exhibit heavy wear; this one may have never been read or had one very conscientious reader.
| First Edition Features | What to Check for on The Hobbit Books |
|---|---|
| Copyright & Publisher | “First Published in 1937” & George Allen & Unwin |
| Binding | Light green cloth with mountain and dragon motif |
| Maps & Illustrations | Endpaper maps in red/black opposite the title page and at the rear; 10 Tolkien drawings |
| Dust Jacket (if available) | Original design with eagles, mountainn; price “7s 6d” on the front flap, “Dodgeson” misprint on the rear flap |
The £43,000 result is a record for a first-edition Hobbit without its original jacket. Jacketed examples have brought higher sums historically; past results include one for $122,000 (2008) and $182,000 (2015). The Times reported that the discovery moved Riley to tears. “To be able to handle and sell one, and for it to come from somewhere so completely unsuspecting? It honestly feels like a miracle,” she told the outlet.
