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

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 1958 10th Impression in Original Dustjacket with Custom Slipcase

#001293 - The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 1958 10th Impression in Original Dustjacket with Custom Slipcase - sold


The Hobbit, one of 1000 copies of the 1958 UK Tenth Impression book with a Ninth Impression Jacket, which would make this even more scarce than the 3,500 copies of the Tenth Impression books in the Tenth Impression Jackets.

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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Published by Allen & Unwin in 1958.


The book is in Very Good Plus condition, with a bit of tanning to the spine of the dustjacket, very light soiling to the white areas, and the lightest of rubs and wear to the edges and tips and corners of the fold areas.
Top and bottom of the spine show some small wrinkling with minor chips and bits of color loss.
A previous owners name to first blank page, no other writing noted.
Verso of frontispiece and opposing page have foxing marks along the edges, with a minor amount showing to the frontispiece and title page, no other foxing noted thru the rest of the book.
The map endpapers are clean and bright, unmarked.
The boards are the original green cloth with dark blue stamping of tolkien's own Mountains and Dragon design, with no bumped corner, and no fading of the bright green covers.
The title verso has the full printing history up to this tenth impression of 1958. The original dustjacket is correctly marked the 10th impression, and would appear to be the original as both book and dustjacket are remarkably well preserved.
In 1957 (Ninth Impression book) Houghton Mifflin ordered a number of sheet sets to be imported from A&U for the US 1957 Ninth Printing, however after A&U had already printed the full run, HM backed out of part of the order due to import costs and reduced their order by 1,000 sheet sets.
So A&U assumed they would have 1,000 more UK books than originally planned and as such they had Jackets produced for this overrun.
Subsequently, HM changed their mind again and took the 1,000 sheet sets they had canceled, thus leaving A&U with 1,000 extra Ninth Impression Jackets.
They simply used those extra jackets on the 1958 Tenth Impression Books.
So there should be 1000 copies of the 1958 UK Tenth Impression book with a Ninth Impression Jacket, which would make this even more scarce than the 3,500 copies of the Tenth Impression books in the Tenth Impression Jackets.
The dustjacket is not price clipped and in Very Good Plus condition, with a small amount of rubbing to the edges, and resultant loss at the tips of the folds, but lacking any of the normal tears to the edges. 
Edges of the text block are clean and unfoxed, with the top edge slightly dusty.

A beautiful copy, of an early printing, of this much sought after children's classic.
A custom faux leather slipcase included, featuring the original Mountain and Dragon design by Tolkien, reflects the design on the covers of the 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.

Pictures (click to enlarge):
 
 
Terms of sale: Prices are only indications, always inquire if books are still available. We accept Money Orders, cash, or Credit Cards (paypal) for immediate shipping.  Checks will delay shipment for 10 days for checks to clear. Please inquire for shipping quotes.
Interested: Please send email to info@tolkienlibrary.com.