Books

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1938. First American Edition. 8vo, 310pp. Complete with color and black and white illustrations by the author. First state with bowing hobbit on title page and chapter VII titled as VI. Pictorial library buckram binding worn and soiled, with plain endpapers (no maps) as bound. Damage to inner margin at pgs 305-310 with a single leaf loose, others holding. Marginal chipping and edge tears to bottom throughout, no text affected. Pg. 149 with tear halfway up from bottom. Tolkien's classic here in the first American edition, first state in a library binding.

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien is a fantasy novel that follows the adventure of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives a quiet and comfortable life in the Shire. Bilbo is unexpectedly visited by the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They seek Bilbo's help in reclaiming their homeland, Erebor, which has been taken over by the fearsome dragon Smaug. Reluctant at first, Bilbo eventually joins the quest as the group's burglar. Along the way, they face numerous challenges, including encounters with trolls, goblins, spiders, and elves. Bilbo discovers a magic ring that grants him the power of invisibility, which aids the group in their escape from various dangers. As the journey progresses, Bilbo develops his courage and resourcefulness, proving instrumental in several critical situations. The company faces adversity in the form of hostile creatures and internal conflicts, but they continue their journey toward the Lonely Mountain, where Smaug hoards vast treasures. Upon reaching the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo uses his wit and the ring's power to outsmart Smaug, causing the dragon to be slain by a local hero named Bard. However, conflict arises as other parties, including men, elves, and goblins, lay claim to the treasure. A battle ensues, known as the Battle of the Five Armies, involving dwarves, elves, men, goblins, and wargs. In the midst of the chaos, Bilbo plays a pivotal role in resolving the conflict and preventing further bloodshed. After the battle, Bilbo returns home to the Shire, forever changed by his adventures. He realizes that while he has gained riches and experiences, the most valuable treasure he possesses is the personal growth and bravery he discovered during his unexpected journey. "The Hobbit" is a tale of courage, friendship, and personal transformation, set in Tolkien's intricately crafted world of Middle-earth. It serves as a prelude to his epic masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings," and remains a beloved classic in the realm of fantasy literature.

On the title page, the publisher should be specified as "London" then “George Allen & Unwin Ltd” then "Museum Street" under that. The book will state FIRST PUBLISHED 1937 and then 'All rights reserved' in italics and then 'PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY (new line) UNWIN BROTHERS LTD., WOKING' On the reverse side of the title page, there should be no dates beyond 1937. The true first edition features 9 black and white illustrations (by J.R.R. Tolkien himself) within the book. Following the sell-out of the first edition, a second printing was released, showcasing colored illustrations for the first time. It bears a resemblance to the initial printing and also bears the 1937 date, but is labeled as the "second impression" on the back of the title page. While the second impression is more readily available than the first, it holds appeal, especially due to its charming color illustrations, and serves as an excellent choice for budding collectors or as a thoughtful gift. Another aspect to pay attention to is the dust jacket, if your edition includes one. On the back flap, there is a specific misspelling exclusive to first editions: “Dodgson” is inaccurately rendered as “Dodgeson”, and typically, this error has been manually corrected in ink by the publishers. The Hobbit is widely regarded as one of the most collectible books of the 20th Century. USA Edition: The USA version has light brown boards with a red flute player icon on the top right position. This is not the true UK first edition. Houghton Mifflin published the first American edition of The Hobbit in spring of 1938.