THE HOBBIT, 1st edition, 4th impression, 1946, LAST printing of the 1st edition.

J R R Tolkien

Published by George Allen and Unwin, 1946

About this Item

An exceptionally clean, near fine, copy of the fourth (and last) printing of the first edition Hobbit, 1946. The book, with the correct fourth impression dust jacket, has become increasingly rare in this condition. George Allen and Unwin printed just over 4000 copies to war time economy standards, the vast majority of which did not survive and very few surviving in this condition. No signatures, inscriptions, book plates or markings of any kind. Some light foxing to the text block edges, but no stains and no reader handling marks, text clean throughout, binding firm. The boards and spine are beautifully clean and bright, no fading and exceptional as there is no shelf wear, corners sharp, and the green top colour is still present. The very good 4th impression dust jacket retains very good colour, has closed tears, light chipping to the spine corners and is price clipped. Tolkien's eight black and white illustrations are present, along with the colour frontispiece, all are in excellent condition. These are the same as the earlier impressions, with the exception of the very first impression, in which the frontispiece was also black and white. This edition contains the original version of Bilbo's encounter with Gollum, which was revised for the 1951 impression of The Hobbit, to bring it in line with, and in readiness for, the release of The Lord of the Rings.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1760348814711

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE HOBBIT, 1st edition, 4th impression, 1946, LAST printing of the 1st edition.
• Publisher: George Allen and Unwin
• Publication Date: 1946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Weight: 1 kilogram