Third impression, a war-time production issued in a shorter binding, using thinner pages, and containing just one color illustration.
Publisher and Year: London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1942
Edition: Third impression. Lacking the scarce dust jacket. Printed during the Second World War, when materials were rationed, the third impression was produced in accordance with the Book Production War Economy Agreement, as stated on the copyright page. Consequently, the book was smaller than the prior two impressions, printed on thinner paper, retained only one of the four color illustrations introduced in the second impression (the frontispiece), and omitted one monochrome plate. One of 1,500 copies issued. A further 3,000 sets of third impression sheets were sold to the bookseller Foyles for the children’s book club edition, bound independently with cheaper materials and using a different design. (Hammond & Anderson A3, pp. 15-16)
Condition and Description: Octavo, 7.5” x 5”, publisher's green cloth stamped in dark blue, green top stain, 310 pp. (+2 pp. ads). Illustrated by Tolkien with maps on the endpapers, a color frontispiece, and eight black-and-white drawings. A well-preserved example, with vibrant cloth, secure hinges and binding, and very light handling wear to the boards. Top stain faded, as usual. A handful of small foxing spots to the edges of the textblock. Contemporary name in pencil to the front free endpaper and a contemporary gift inscription to that same individual in ink to the verso dated 1943, which was later crossed out in ink; otherwise free of prior owner’s markings. Light and soft vertical crease to the pages up to p. 26. Housed in a custom slipcase with the side panels featuring the art of the dust jacket.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
The Hobbit established the blueprint for modern high fantasy. Upon publication, few would have suspected that the novel would leave such a profound impact on literature. Seventeen years later, Tolkien published the first volume of The Lord of the Rings, another watershed moment in the genre.
Inventory ID: 812 - 090 - 029
Third impression, a war-time production issued in a shorter binding, using thinner pages, and containing just one color illustration.
Publisher and Year: London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1942
Edition: Third impression. Lacking the scarce dust jacket. Printed during the Second World War, when materials were rationed, the third impression was produced in accordance with the Book Production War Economy Agreement, as stated on the copyright page. Consequently, the book was smaller than the prior two impressions, printed on thinner paper, retained only one of the four color illustrations introduced in the second impression (the frontispiece), and omitted one monochrome plate. One of 1,500 copies issued. A further 3,000 sets of third impression sheets were sold to the bookseller Foyles for the children’s book club edition, bound independently with cheaper materials and using a different design. (Hammond & Anderson A3, pp. 15-16)
Condition and Description: Octavo, 7.5” x 5”, publisher's green cloth stamped in dark blue, green top stain, 310 pp. (+2 pp. ads). Illustrated by Tolkien with maps on the endpapers, a color frontispiece, and eight black-and-white drawings. A well-preserved example, with vibrant cloth, secure hinges and binding, and very light handling wear to the boards. Top stain faded, as usual. A handful of small foxing spots to the edges of the textblock. Contemporary name in pencil to the front free endpaper and a contemporary gift inscription to that same individual in ink to the verso dated 1943, which was later crossed out in ink; otherwise free of prior owner’s markings. Light and soft vertical crease to the pages up to p. 26. Housed in a custom slipcase with the side panels featuring the art of the dust jacket.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
The Hobbit established the blueprint for modern high fantasy. Upon publication, few would have suspected that the novel would leave such a profound impact on literature. Seventeen years later, Tolkien published the first volume of The Lord of the Rings, another watershed moment in the genre.
Inventory ID: 812 - 090 - 029
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