Rare ‘The Hobbit’ First Edition Discovered in Estate Sale Sparks $57,000 Bidding Frenzy
Imagine stumbling upon a nearly flawless treasure from 1937, tucked away like a shy hobbit in an unassuming English bookcase—no dust jacket, just a green cover whispering secrets. That’s exactly what Caitlin Riley, a savvy rare books specialist, did when she spotted a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, illustrated by the man himself, and in shockingly pristine condition. Now, here’s a question that tickles my brain like a mischievous elf: how does a book so precious end up hiding in plain sight, ignored by generations of readers? This isn’t just any old children’s story—this edition, one of only 1,500 printed, just blew past sky-high auction estimates to sell for a staggering $57,000, proving rarity and provenance can still trump even the loudest internet buzz. Ready to dive into the backstory behind this remarkable find and the mysterious journey of this legendary book? LEARN MORE.
The 1937 novel is in almost perfect condition and features illustrations by the author, J.R.R. Tolkien.
AuctioneumThe incredibly rare first edition copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit was unexpectedly found on a bookshelf at an estate sale.
A rare first edition copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit featuring illustrations by the author just sold for $57,000 at auction.
It’s one of 1,500 first impressions of the book that were printed in 1937, and it’s in nearly pristine condition. The volume was discovered at an estate sale in England earlier this year, and when the auction was first announced in July, it was expected to bring in around $16,000 — but it more than tripled those estimates.
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