Tolkien, J. R. R. (1892–1973)

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1959.
THE ADVENTURE THAT BUILT MIDDLE-EARTH

One of the most influential fantasy novels of the twentieth century, The Hobbit introduced readers to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Gollum, and the richly imagined world that would later expand into The Lord of the Rings. This 1959 Eleventh Impression represents an early post-war British printing issued by Tolkien's longtime publisher, George Allen & Unwin, and preserves the author's own illustrations and cartographic designs.

Written initially as a children's story but embraced by readers of all ages, The Hobbit combines adventure, myth, humor, and folklore in a narrative that helped establish the modern fantasy genre. Collectors continue to pursue early Allen & Unwin printings for their direct connection to Tolkien's original publication history and for the author's distinctive illustrations, maps, and visual conception of Middle-earth.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Publisher's original green cloth lettered in black. Octavo; approximately 7.25 inches tall. Illustrated by J. R. R. Tolkien with map endpapers, color frontispiece, and black-and-white plates throughout. Housed in the original dust jacket protected in Mylar.

CONDITION: Book is Near Fine with bright cloth, strong lettering, and an attractive, well-preserved interior. Bindings are tight and secure. Text is clean. Original map endpapers remain fresh and complete. Dust jacket is Very Good, price-clipped, with moderate edge wear and rubbing; protected in a clear Mylar sleeve. A handsome collector's copy of an increasingly desirable Allen & Unwin printing. Eleventh Impression (Second U.K. Edition; Seventh Printing of the Revised Text; Eleventh Impression Overall).

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
First published in 1937, The Hobbit established Tolkien as a major literary figure and laid the foundation for the mythology of Middle-earth. The revised Second Edition incorporated textual changes following the publication of The Lord of the Rings, making later Allen & Unwin impressions such as this one an important part of Tolkien's evolving literary canon.

Reference: Carpenter & Pritchard, p. 530.

SUBJECTS: J. R. R. Tolkien; The Hobbit; Middle-earth; Fantasy Fiction; British Fantasy Literature; Bilbo Baggins; Allen & Unwin; Author Illustrations; Collectible Tolkien Editions; Twentieth-Century Literature, Fantasy Literature; Modern First Editions; Children's Classics; British Literature.




Item #22070

Price: $1,250.00