George Allen & Unwin, London, 1942

First Edition, Third Impression, 1942 A very clean copy with unrestored bright clean boards.

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 include the author’s one color plate, initially commissioned for and later published in the American edition. [Hammond A3a. ] In late 1942, Allen & Unwin printed 1,500 copies of a third impression. Arguably more scarce than a 1st/1st, with few having survived due to a warehouse fire during the war, and the fact that they were printed on the standard cheap wartime paper. To this end we have only spotted two other third printings, one with an original jacket, listed for $56,000.00; and one other inferior 3rd printing copy without the jacket listed for $12,500. Today first/firsts are selling for $140,000 and up in an original jacket.

This unrestored book is in near fine/very good plus condition for the Third Impression. The boards are clean and bright with strong vibrant unfaded deep blue details. Slight toning and rubbing to the cloth with a few area with very small discolorations. Square, but slightly rounded corners. The original end papers are present and clean and bright with no owner names, no bookplates and no bookstore stamps. The internal pages are remarkably clean and bright, with no handling marks, no stains, no foxing, and no bent pages. 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.