The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J R R
The Hobbit tells the famous
story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is caught up in the affairs of
wizards. His journey through Mirkwood and the climactic confrontation
with the dragon Smaug served as the launching point for Tolkien's
transformative trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Many of the
essential elements of Tolkien's classic saga have their roots in this
children's book.
The story remains popular, and stands
as one of the most enduring (and endearing) stories of the last
century. The Hobbit sparked a creative explosion in
speculative fiction, a fire that burns brightly to this day. The
revival in interest in recent years, in part due to the popularity of
the film series inspired by Tolkien's books only shows the
timelessness of his story, and the importance of his work.
First edition identification
The first impression of the first edition ran as a limited printing of 1500 copies, published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937. Authentic copies with the dust jacket will include a well known hand correction, in black ink, of a misspelling of the last name of Reverend Charles Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) on the back flap. A first edition, first printing of the original U.K. edition can run over $40,000. Signed copies of this edition have been appraised at over $100,000 U.S. Later printings of the first edition also retain much value for collectors. The first U.S. Edition, printed in 1938 by Houghton Mifflin Company, is prized and is commonly sold to collectors at prices well over $2,000. Chips to the cover, a missing dustcover, wear to the spine, and damage to the map in the endpaper, are some of the more common flaws for this book.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
For more on collecting The Hobbit and other works by J.R.R. Tolkien, see our blog: https://www.biblio.com/blog/2023/01/collecting-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-other-works-of-j-r-r-tolkie...
Reviews
Review this book!
On Mar 18, 2022, Anonymous said
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (but nobody really calls it that anyway), a tale written some time ago by some J. R. R. Tolkien fella, is the story of a Hobbit who indeed goes there... and back again. You see, in the going of there, preceding the coming back again to the place he was before he went there, he came across many an interesting thing in the wild lands to the east (As well as the less wild lands to the west of the East, known to some as the West. There was also some northward travel, but we won't get into that in this review, or the next review for that matter, as the next review will likely have nothing to do with this review, making stories of the northward travels of hobbits of no use, but I digress. Back to the list I was about to list.), such as dwarves, trolls, goblins, a neat ring that most likely will serve no real importance in future adventures by Tolkien, wargs, eagles, a bear dude named Beorn, spiders, elves, some other guys, a dragon, a thrush, some ravens, some rocks, I guess, a wizard, various waters, treasure, glorious gemstone, and some other things that I don't care to recall. Anyway, the story is about Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who does some stuff and goes somewhere (an unusual thing for a Hobbit, apparently, despite the number of books and movies and erotic fanfics based on the adventures of various Hobbits). Most importantly though, the book comes fully equip with two maps! TWO! Not one, not three, but TWO! Of course, I was reading the 70th anniversary edition, bought from www.biblio.com (sign up today!), so the number of maps may vary, depending on whether or not you're reading a library edition that has had numerous pages unceremoniously removed by children. Though, this version has the maps on the back of the front cover and front of the back cover (or would that be the back of the back cover?), making it a lot harder for me/children to rip them from the book to store in my/their stolen map collection. I figure this is enough for a review, so I'll stop rambling now. But I must insist the few of you who haven't read this book stop not having read this book and read this book! I read it and I have a (self-proclaimed) mental disorder (that I take lots and lots of sexy sounding medication for, much of which isn't legal or medication at all).
On Apr 1, 2013, fireflower537 said
This book has one huge major flaw: There are NO female characters. I am guessing all the ladies are in Upper Earth and Lower Earth.
Available Copies

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The Hobbit - or, There and Back Again
by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Edition
- 1st Edition, 1st Printing
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hudson, New Hampshire, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 27,642.10
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Description:
This is the rare, true first printing of "THE HOBBIT - or, There and Back Again" by J.R.R. Tolkien. 1937 1st edition, 1st printing (with "First Published in 1937" stated on the copyright page and no subsequent printings listed); George Allen & Unwin Ltd.; London. All illustrations are present as called for, and are firmly attached. The frontispiece and all… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 27,642.10

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The Hobbit
by J R R Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Very Good Indeed
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Published
- 1958
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 2,575.35
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Description:
London: George Allen & Unwin, 1958. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Fair. 7.5" by 5". J R R Tolkien. An early edition of J R R Tolkien's important novel 'The Hobbit'. An award winning novel, and a classic in children's literature. The tenth impression of the second edition.'The Hobbit' is the first novel in Tolkien's fantasy world that continued… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 2,575.35

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The Hobbit or There and Back Again
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Poor
- Edition
- Second Edition/6th Printing
- Published
- 1958
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Albany, California, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 979.72
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Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1958. Second Edition/6th Printing. Hardcover. Good/Poor. Tenth Impression overall of the US Edition as stated on the front jacket flap. In light green cloth with blue type and cap motif. Several faint splash stains to top and front page ends. One small spot to middle of spine. Rear bottom corner slighty soft, but corners sharp overall.… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 979.72

The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Mass Market Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0261102214
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 5.65
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Description:
HarperCollins. Mass Market Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 5.65

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The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- No
- Edition
- First American Edition Later State
- Published
- 1938
- Binding
- Hardcover in buff cloth and stamped in blue and red with bowing Hobbitbuff cloth and stamped in blue and red
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Waterville, Maine, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 5,591.40
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Description:
Hardcover in buff cloth and stamped in blue and red with bowing Hobbit. First American Edition, later state with flute player illustration to title page replacing bowing hobbit and Chapter VII beginning on page 118 as intended. Tight binding Unmarked text. Rear hinge repaired. Illustrations by the author. 310 pages, with 15 illustrations including 2 maps as… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 5,591.40

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THE HOBBIT
by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Not a Book
- Edition
- Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included)
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- No Binding
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montreal, Quebec, CAN
- Item Price
-
SGD 489.86
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Description:
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1937. Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included). No Binding. Not a Book. Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included). No Binding. First Edition Clamshell Case. Superb Custom Fitted Modern Collector's Clamshell Bookcase [Not A Book] HAND-CRAFTED by our conservation team, each box is Gilt-stamped at the spine, & features a blind embossed [sculpted] THE… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 489.86

The Hobbit : Or There and back Again
by Tolkien, J. R. R.
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good+
- Edition
- 3rd Edition
- Published
- 1968
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0048230693
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Forrestfield, Western Australia, AUS
- Item Price
-
SGD 173.92
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Description:
England: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1968. Book. Good. Hardcover. 3rd Edition. Ex School Library 4th printing of the 3rd edition. Price clipped jacket has erosion to the spine tips and tape ghosts to the flap edges which are repeated on the pastedowns and ghosted to the endpapers and to a lesser degree on the external binding. Library stamp to… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 173.92

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The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 80th anniversary facsimile edition
- Published
- 2016
- Binding
- Light green cloth pictorially stamped in navy
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
New York, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 209.94
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Description:
TOLKIEN, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel]. The Hobbit Or There and Back Again. London: [HarperCollins] George Allen & Unwin [2016]. 8vo, 310pp. + [2]advts. Light green cloth pictorially stamped in navy; top edge green. Differing two-color map endpapers; 10 b&w plates. A fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket and housed in a color pictorial clamshell case with a lenticular cover… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 209.94

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The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Good+
- Edition
- 1st ed, 1st state
- Published
- 1938
- Binding
- Bound in publisher's original buff cloth stamped in blue and red; lacking the dust jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Victoria, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 11,196.80
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Description:
First American edition, first state with a bowing hobbit on the title page, and Chapter VII mistakenly titled Chapter VI. Bound in publisher's original buff cloth (slight staining) stamped in blue and red; lacking the dust jacket. Good + with light foxing to cloth and loosening on the interior spine, corners rubbed; former owner labels. More photos available upon… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 11,196.80

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The Hobbit (2nd American Edition, 8th Impression)
by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- 2nd Edition
- Published
- 1956
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 1,119.68
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Description:
2nd American edition. 8th impression. 1,000 copies of this impression were sent from Allen & Unwin to Houghton Mifflin. Dust jacket states 8th impression, book is confirmed the same by the clipped 'e' in 'the' on page 20, line 6.
Book is in Very Good condition, with joints showing signs of weakness. Some very light foxing on map endpapers. Some… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 1,119.68

The Hobbit
by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Published
- 03/19/2001
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0261102214
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 5.65
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Description:
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 03/19/2001. Paperback. Used; Good. **WE SHIP WITHIN 24 HRS FROM LONDON, UK, 98% OF OUR ORDERS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books. Item Price
SGD 5.65

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The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition 3rd Printing
- Published
- 1942
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 34,338.00
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Description:
UK: George Allen & Unwin, 1942. 1st Edition 3rd Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien First Edition Third Printing George Allen & Unwin Ltd 1942. No inscriptions or signs of previous ownership. No foxing or toning, clean and unblemished throughout. Top edge green tint still present. Original publisher's green cloth covers are bright and… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 34,338.00

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The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1938
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 17,495.00
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Description:
Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1938. First Edition. Very Good. First American edition, first state with a bowing hobbit on the title page, and Chapter VII mistakenly titles Chapter VI. Bound in publisher's original buff cloth stamped in blue and red; lacking the dust jacket. Very Good with light marking to bottom of spine, spine ends… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 17,495.00

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"The Hobbit" ( fragment of the text)
by Tolkien, J. R. R.
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1969
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Chamesson, FRA
- Item Price
-
SGD 699.80
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Description:
The first publication of Tolkien in Russian, not known in bibliographies and studies devoted to his work. On pages 30-40, there is a fragment from "The Hobbit" (the first edition in Russian was published in 1976). The name of the translator of the first fragment from Tolkien remains unknown.
The magazine "England" was one of the strange periodicals, the very existence… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 699.80

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The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1938
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
La Mesa, California, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 20,994.00
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Description:
Houghton Mifflin Co.. A beautiful crisp clean hardcover copy in very good condition, light foxing to top edge of textblock, upper corner edge of textblock slightly bumped. DJ, clipped, in good condition with small chips along edges. Genuine first edition first printing with bowing hobbit on title page and Chapter VII identified as Chapter VI. . Very Good. Hardcover.… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 20,994.00

THE HOBBIT - Custom Clamshell Case Only. (NO BOOK INCLUDED) in GREEN
by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Condition
- Used - Not a Book
- Edition
- Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included)
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- No Binding
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montreal, Quebec, CAN
- Item Price
-
SGD 489.86
Show Details
Description:
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1937. Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included). No Binding. Not a Book. Custom Clamshell Case (Book not included). No Binding. First Edition Clamshell Case. Superb Custom Fitted Modern Collector's Clamshell Bookcase [Not A Book] HAND-CRAFTED by our conservation team, each box is Gilt-stamped at the spine, & features a blind embossed [sculpted] THE… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 489.86

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The Hobbit
by Tolkein, J. R. R.
- Condition
- Used - Very good in about very good(-) original jacket. Pease refer to photos for condition details.
- Jacket Condition
- about very good
- Edition
- Fourteenth Impression (stated) ; a later printing of the US Seco
- Published
- 1964
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Oakland, California, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 503.86
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Miflin & Company, 1964. Fourteenth Impression (stated) ; a later printing of the US Second Edition. Hardcover. Very good in about very good(-) original jacket. Pease refer to photos for condition details./about very good. Octavo in dark green cloth; 315 p., illus maps to endpapers; color frontis, b/w illus. An attractive copy, all in all.
Item Price
SGD 503.86

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The Hobbit
by J.R.R.TOLKIEN
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Dust Jacket
- Edition
- Fourth Edition
- Published
- 1973
- Binding
- Very good
- ISBN 10
- 0048230707
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 8.58
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Description:
The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien, published in 1973 as a Sixteenth impression. In a very good condition throughout the book. Very minor wear to the covers. Item Price
SGD 8.58

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The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1938
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 13,716.08
Show Details
Description:
Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1938. First Edition. Very Good. First American edition, first state with a bowing hobbit on the title page, and Chapter VII mistakenly titles Chapter VI. Bound in publisher's original buff cloth stamped in blue and red; lacking the dust jacket. Very Good with soiling to cloth, toning to spine with fraying… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 13,716.08

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The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.R.R.
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1938
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 20,994.00
Show Details
Description:
Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1938. First Edition. Near Fine. First American edition, first state with a bowing hobbit on the title page, and Chapter VII mistakenly titles Chapter VI. Bound in publisher's original buff cloth stamped in blue and red; lacking the dust jacket. Near Fine with light soiling to covers and light bumping to… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 20,994.00