The Hobbit or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien Illustrated by the Author [Fine Full Leather Binding housed in a Clamshell Box FIRST Edition Second Impression]

J.R.R. Tolkien

Published by London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, Museum Street, 1937

About this Item

London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, Museum Street, 1937, FIRST Edition, Second Impression. Full coarse grain morocco green leather binding, with gilt titles and decoration, and five raised bands to the spine, gilt dragon to the gilt ruled front board, inner gilt rules to the leather turn-ins to the paste downs. With the original end papers bound in on to new paper (curling slightly), pages tanned with some foxing marks (see images), with some historically folded corners. Illustrated. Full dark green morocco housed in a green half leather clamshell box. First colour-illustrated edition, preceded only by the first edition, first impression. Only 2,300 copies were printed of this second impression, of which 423 copies in sheets were destroyed in the London blitz in 1940. The first impression of 1,500 copies had been published in September 1937 and had sold out by December. The coloured illustrations "had been commissioned for the first American edition, and were in the American publisher's hands when Allen & Unwin decided to include them in the second impression. The original art was called back for reproduction in Britain, then returned across the Atlantic" (Hammond & Anderson p. 15). Pagination: 310, [2]pp of adverts. Provenance: no inscriptions or bookplates Approximately 8 ¾ inches (22cm) tall (box), 7 ½ inches (19cm) tall (book). Condition Report Externally Spine fine condition bright and clean with gilt titles, five raised bands and gilt decoration to the base. Joints fine condition sound. Corners fine condition. Boards fine condition gilt dragon to the front board and gilt ruled border to both boards. Page edges fine condition all edges gilt. Binding very good condition attractive. See above and photos. Internally Hinges fine condition sound. Paste downs fine condition gilt ruled leather turn-ins. End papers very good condition new end papers with original map end papers mounted on to paper and curling, minor marks and foxing. Title good condition gently tanned. Pages good condition with some marks, and historically folded corners and some foxing throughout. See photos.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1748856703140

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Hobbit or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien Illustrated by the Author [Fine Full Leather Binding housed in a Clamshell Box FIRST Edition Second Impression]
• Publisher: London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, Museum Street
• Publication Date: 1937
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Edition
  • Fine Binding