Tolkien Library Store - Original Cloth Bindings - The Hobbit original bindings

The Hobbit. 1951 5th Impression with Original Dustjacket and Custom Slipcase

#001035 - The Hobbit. 1951 5th Impression with Original Dustjacket and Custom Slipcase - sold


One of a 1000 printed The Hobbit copies for the US and bound from November 1950 thru March 1953.

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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
A fantastic copy of a very early and significant printing of The Hobbit.
The 1951, 5th overall printing, is the 1st printing of the 2nd Edition (1951).
A Near Fine copy in its Very Good Plus condition original dustjacket, designed by Tolkien, as found on the original UK Editions.


Stated 5th impression on front flap,
price clipped, noted as printed in Great Britain.
A scarce copy, imported from Allen & Unwin, still with the Allen and Unwin title page, not the Houghton Mifflin. Only the Houghton Mifflin stamped at the base of the spine differentiates this copy from the Allen & Unwin (A3c Hammond and Anderson).
Even the original dustjacket states Allen & Unwin.
The text block is clean and bright, a small gift inscription and date on the first blank page, bound in the green colored original cloth from the publisher.
One of a 1000 printed for the US and bound from November 1950 thru March 1953 (per Hammond and Anderson).
The text block is clean and bright, with no foxing noted.
This copy is bound in the green colored original cloth featuring Tolkiens original Mountains and Dragon design stamped in dark blue, same layout as the UK publisher, Allen & Unwin, had used since the original publication in 1937.
This is the only impression of the US 1st or 2nd Edition that features the original Mountain and Dragon design for the cover's.
Shows almost no shelf wear, slight rubbing at the bottom spine edges, no soiling to note, a couple of lightly bumped corners. A beautiful clean bright copy, still has the green topstain clearly visible to the top edge of the text block.
Contains the full color frontispiece "The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water", as well as the original line drawings by Tolkien.
The maps are in excellent condition, red and black ink still show clear and bright against the unfoxed endpapers.
The dustjacket shows a bit of wear to the top of the spine, and the top folds at the flaps have the smallest of chips, a couple of other chips on the top edge of the front panel and the bottom rear corner of the spine area have missing pieces.
The jacket shows no tanning in the white sections of the spine, overall a very clean and bright dustjacket, only lightly soiled.
A previous owners name (same as gift inscription in the book) to the inside of the front and back flap, does not show thru the dustjacket.

A beautiful copy, scarce in original dustjacket in this lovely condition.
Housed in a custom slipcase to protect and show off this highly collectable book.

Digital photo's available, inquire if interested.

Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions.
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Interested: Please send email to info@tolkienlibrary.com.