George Allen & Unwin, London, 1942

First Edition, Third Impression, 1942: A near fine very clean copy in lovely vibrant cloth.

The first printing of The Hobbit was issued on 21st September 1937 with a print run of only 1500 copies. The book was an immediate success and sold out within months. The second impression, was printed in December the same year in an edition of 2300 copies (423 of which were destroyed at the warehouse of the binder, Key and Whiting, in the bombing of London on November 7th 1940) and was the first printing to convert four of the author’s black and white illustration plates to color. These were initially commissioned for and later published in the American edition. [Hammond A3a.]  The third printing (and fourth impressions) were printed on wartime paper and as such as tend to be quite hard to locate in collectible condition. Please note that today first/firsts are selling for $350,000-$400,000 in an original jacket, and the only other third printing of the Hobbit currently even listed for sale is in an original jacket and lists for $85,000. The copy offered here lacks the original jacket.

This book received a bit of restoration to some very outer spine tip fraying, and presents in near fine/very good plus condition for the Third Impression. The cloth still maintains its strong vibrant colors and is overall very clean with just a bit of rubbing. The book has sharp corners, and the binding is tight and square. The original map end papers are present and clean and bright with no owner names, no inscriptions, no bookplates and no bookstore stamps. The internal pages are all very clean, bright and flat with no handling marks, no bent pages and no stains, but with the typical age toning to the pages due to the wartime paper used.  A bit of top stain to the upper edge of the first few pages, likely from the original top stain bleed.  An overall very clean fresh book. Lacking the dust jacket. Please see all the images.

A superb very early printing in very clean condition.

This book is part of a collection. Please see our stores for other rare book listings.Please note the cost to ship includes full insurance. Insurance is calculated at the USPS rate of $1.00 per $100 of value and will show up as a handling fee on your invoice but is only the cost to ensure your book in transit.