1946 First UK Edition, Fourth Printing of "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Item Details

A first British edition, fourth impression, hardcover copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy classic The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, published in 1946 by George Allen & Unwin of London. It is published according to ‘war economy standard’ in the aftermath of the Second World War, and has only one color illustration. It is bound in a green cloth hardcover and is an ex-library copy, with no dust jacket. The fourth impression was the last printing of the first edition, with the second edition following in 1951. Note that for the second edition, substantial changes were made to the chapter ‘Riddle in the Dark’, which appears here in its original, lesser-known form. In this version, Gollum is more friendly and is willing to bet his ring in the riddle game with Bilbo. By the second edition, Tolkien had reconsidered the role of the ring in the story, changing it from a simple invisibility ring to the ‘One Ring’ which inspires powerful desire in all who see it. He rewrote this chapter for the second edition to make Gollum unwilling to part with the ring. No dust jacket present.

Condition

- ex-library copy, library pencil inscriptions and ink stamps throughout; light cover wear. No dust jacket present.

Dimensions

Item #

17CIN529-441