A first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy novel, 'The Hobbit,' has achieved a remarkable £43,000 at a recent auction. This particular copy, one of only 1,500 originally printed in 1937, represents a significant artifact from the genesis of Tolkien's Middle-earth universe.
The book was discovered unexpectedly within a chest of drawers in a Berkshire home and had been inherited and subsequently overlooked. Kinghams Auctioneers in Gloucestershire facilitated the sale, with the novel significantly surpassing its initial estimate of £7,000 to £10,000, ultimately selling for more than four times that amount. Bidding was robust, drawing interest from collectors worldwide. This treasured first edition features Tolkien's own distinctive black and white illustrations. A notable detail on the dust jacket's inner flap includes a manual correction referencing Charles Dodgson, more famously known as Lewis Carroll. The book's provenance traces back to the family library of Hubert Priestley, a botanist with connections to Oxford University, suggesting a potential link to Tolkien himself through shared academic circles and correspondence with C.S. Lewis.
The rarity of such a find is considerable. Of the initial 1,500 copies printed, only a few hundred are believed to still exist, and many of those that do bear the marks of enthusiastic young readers. This particular copy, however, was described as being in "absolutely beautiful condition," potentially unread, making its survival and discovery particularly astonishing. The enduring appeal of Tolkien's work, which has sold over 100 million copies globally and laid the foundation for 'The Lord of the Rings,' continues to drive demand for these early printings. In 2015, a first edition with a handwritten Elvish inscription by Tolkien fetched £137,000, underscoring the immense value placed on these literary treasures.