Christmas Gift Ideas for Hobbit and Tolkien lovers - PART I (2.12.08 by Pieter Collier) - Comments

It is the season again when nights gets longer and over here in Europe all leaves have fallen from the trees, the cold weather is back and we all huddle together around the fire. The quest has begon again to find an original gift? This year I'm going to make some nice suggestions, by creating two lists which will help you find a perfect gift for any Tolkien and Hobbit lover or collector.
Part I will cover all items related to The Hobbit, the bestseller by J.R.R.Tolkien, that soon will be turned into a movie adaptation. Part II will cover other nice Tolkien collectables, books and perfect Christmas gifts.

It is always difficult to choose a nice gift for someone else. In the case of Tolkien lovers and especially the collectors, things can get even more difficult. How can you manage to find something that is not yet in his / her collection and how can you be sure the thing you buy is really special... and will be well appreciated. I'll get you on the road and make a little list of items which are new, unique or just nice gifts.

PART I - Gift idea: The Hobbit

The perfect gift is this fully illustrated paperback of the critically acclaimed and beloved children’s classic The Hobbit, featuring 26 colour paintings and over 30 pencil drawings by Alan Lee, creator of the fabulously successful Centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings and art director of the Peter Jackson movies.

This paperback contains all the stunning paintings by Alan Lee, depicting key scenes from this all-time classic (scenes such as Gollum and Bilbo, The Wargs, Smaug the Dragon and The Battle of the Five Armies), and this beautiful volume also includes a wealth of integrated pencil drawings which demonstrate perfectly Alan's genius at work.

A similar hardback edition, with 22 illustrations, was published in 1997.
The Hobbit illustrated by Alan Lee Paperback Edition
THE HOBBIT [illustrated paperback edition]

Ideal Christmas gift for all who loved the Lord of the Rings movies and are now looking forward to the Hobbit movies. It features the art by Alan Lee, the artistic force behind the Peter Jackson adapatation and probably of the new Hobbit movies as well.
In 2007 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of The Hobbit with a brand new edition. It featured a short introduction by Christopher Tolkien, a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien’s own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare “Mirkwood” piece. Read my review of this book here. A Hobbit is always a nice present, especially this new fantastic looking celebration edition!
Harper Collins Tolkien Collection
The new Hobbit matches my favorite editions of The Lord of the Rings (boxed set with Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion), The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and even with the already published The History of the Hobbit: Mr Baggins and The History of the Hobbit: Return to bag-end. Here is a picture of how a set will look like with this new addition.
The History of the Hobbit also has been published in a box set which had a hardback gift edition of The Hobbit and the two-volume companion called The History of the Hobbit. It is called THE HOBBIT, MR BAGGINS AND THE RETURN TO bag-end: Boxed Set [Anniversary Collector’s edition]. This set would be a great gift for the serious Tolkien fan.

The three-volume collector’s boxed set presents for the first time the complete text of the original manuscript of ‘The Hobbit’ alongside the definitive hardback edition of the book. It tells the story of how the Hobbit came to be and grew into the final shape as we know it today. It records the many changes made to the story both before and after publication, and examines – chapter-by chapter – why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien’s evergrowing concept of Middle-earth.


Still not satisfied and looking for the true special gift. Please visit the Tolkien Library Store. The It always has a large amount of rare and collectible Tolkien books up for sale. Here is a small selection of The Hobbit Related items currently available.

#clp0040 - 1942 Book Club Hobbit with Facsimile Dustjacket - € 1250,-
One of 3000 copies of the 1942, 1st Edition 3rd impression, printed for the Children's Book Club of the bookseller Foyles, from the Allen & Unwin plates. 
> Enquire about this book
#clp0044 - 1954 6th UK Hobbit in later dust jacket - € 500,-
The 2nd impression of the 2nd Edition, or 6th impression overall, published in 1954. Scarce in any condition.
> Enquire about this book
#clp0045A - 1958 10th UK Hobbit with original dust jacket - € 345,-
The 6th impression of the 2nd Edition, or 10th impression overall, published in 1958. Scarce in this Fine condition.
> Enquire about this book
#pc000007 - The Hobbit serialization in Princess Magazine - € 1325 The story was split up into fifteen installments and issued on a weekly basis between October 10, 1964 and January 16, 1965.
> Enquire about this book
#pc000014 - The Hobbit Indian Paperback Edition, 2007, HarperCollins- € 35 For sale on the indian subcontinent only, now also available from the Tolkien Library Store.
> Enquire about this book
#clp0002 - The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harper Collins 2004 Deluxe Edition – € 160,-
This Deluxe Edition is a beautiful companion to the 50th Anniversary Edition of 'The Lord of the Rings', as well as matching the Deluxe Children of Hurin released in April 2007  and the Deluxe Silmarillion released in September 2007.  Soon to be complemented by the release of a matching Deluxe Tales of the Perilous Realm (October 2008 release).
> Enquire about this book
#clp0025 - The Hobbit, 1987 Super Deluxe Limited Edition #451/500 - € 650,-
This Limited Numbered Edition was published in 1987 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the original publication of The Hobbit.
> Enquire about this book
#clp0009 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harper Collins Limited Edition, one of 2500 copies published in 1999 – € 290,-
Harper Collins Publishers, the 1st printing of the 1999 Deluxe Limited Edition, Limited to 2500 copies worldwide.

> Enquire about this book
#clp0012 - 1987 Harper Collins, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Signed Alan Lee Deluxe Limited Edition #542/600  - € 600,-
Number 542 of a Limited Edition of only 600, specially bound and slipcased by the publisher to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first publication of "The Hobbit". Signed by the renowned artist, Alan Lee.
> Enquire about this book


The books in the Tolkien Library Store always have a high collectible value and are of the finest on the market. Tolkien books available include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed / Numbered / Limited Editions.

Rare Tolkien items are also available, including books and letters signed by Tolkien, proof copies and books from Tolkiens personal library.

Not all items are on display here, so please do not hesitate to make requests about Tolkien books you are trying to find. Whatever you are looking to buy or sell, we will always try to help. Please choose the category of books you are interested in:

* Original cloth bindings
* Custom Cloth bindings
* Signed / Numbered / Limited editions
* Rare Tolkien items
* Other Tolkien collectables

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