The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Christmas Gift Idea for Tolkien lovers and collectors (30.11.10 by Pieter Collier) - Comments

Next year will be the year we will look forward to the release of the first The Hobbit movie and so this Christmas it would be a good idea to put a nice copy of the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien under the Christmas tree. I'm certain this will be a perfect gift - who does not like to read a good book? - and with the first movie coming next year I'm certain there will be a lot of people willing to read the tale before the tale is put on the silver screen.

But what copy of the Hobbit would be nice to give? The book was originally released in 1937 and so many editions exist. You could go for a nice reading copy, an illustrated edition, a popup book, a nice leather bound Hobbit, a fine old copy of the Hobbit, a deluxe edition, a signed copy...

As you can see there are many possibilities. So here I'll give a short list of nice copies, starting with the cheaper copies and moving up to some very unique and rare Hobbits. In some days, I'll write another short list of good gifts for Tolkien lovers and collectors, but first let us have a look at some very nice The Hobbit books.

Christmas gift idea: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The first perfect gift in this list is a 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.

A paperback copy of the Hobbit is always a nice gift. First because it is not too expensive and still looks good. It lies very good in the hand and most of the time the paper is a bit darker and so reads very well. It has a perfect size to take with you, wherever you wish to go.

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. It remains one of the best Hobbits to read out when you have kids - or just love good illustrations!
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. One thing is certain, Alan Lee is now back in New Zealand and so we can expect much of what you can see in this edition to come to the film screen next year!
THE HOBBIT [70th anniversary edition]

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 fantastic looking celebration edition! The cover by J.R.R. Tolkien himself remains one of the best book jackets ever designed and this edition sits well on every bookshelf.

The excellent quality of this Hobbit will be enjoyed by any person willing to read the book - probably the best price versus quality out there!
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.
Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the world. As with all classics, repeated readings continue to bring new detail and perspectives to the reader's mind, and tolkien's Middle-earth is a vast mine of treasures and knowledge, its roots delving deep into folklore, mythology and language. The Hobbit is, therefore, an ideal book for annotation: as well as offering a marvellous and entrancing story, it introduces the reader to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth, a world more fully and complexly realised in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

Douglas Anderson's annotations make fascinating reading. Additionally, many of tolkien's own illustrations embellish the text, and numerous illustrations from foreign editions exhibit an extraordinary range of visual interpretation. This book is a perfect gift for a Tolkien fan who enjoyed the Hobbit and is looking for extra info on the book and the author Tolkien.
Another perfect Christmas gift would be The Hobbit Gif Pack. Presented in a special gift box, this pack also includes a copy of John Howe's colour map of Wilderland, a booklet about the writing of "The Hobbit", six postcards featuring tolkien's own paintings, a CD of extracts read by Tolkien, and photographs of the "Lord of the Rings" movie.

John Howe is the second artist, who next to Alan Lee, defined much of how Peter Jacksons movie adaptation looked like.

Still 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. The following books are all unique, rare copies of the Hobbit.

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harper Collins 2004 Deluxe Edition
#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
#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
#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
#pc000017 - 1st US Hobbit 1938 3rd State - Near Fine - € 1700
A wonderful copy of an extremely collectable book. This book features the 4 color and 9 black and white illustrations by Tolkien, all of which are present and in extremely clean and bright condition.
> Enquire about this book
#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
#clp0123 - The Hobbit, 1987 Super Deluxe Signed Limited Edition, #51 of 100 Signed Copies - 2250 Euro
A wonderful copy of an extremely collectable book. In unread condition, a must for the serious collector.

> Enquire about this book
#clp0115 - The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, signed by J.R.R. Tolkien on the title page - € 6400,-
Published by Allen & Unwin in 1971. Superb copy signed by the author on the title page.
> Enquire about this book
#pc000015 - Uncorrected Proof Copy of the Hobbit, Allen and Uwin, 1966- € 17.500
J.R.R.Tolkien the Hobbit proofs are very rare to find and extremely rare Tolkien collectables
This one with tolkiens name misspelled on the front cover and title page
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> 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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