First Edition The Hobbit Star Of The Show
Written by ady on March 18, 2008 – 11:45 am -A signed first edition copy of The Hobbit is part of a collection of Tolkien memorabilia that is due to go up for auction at Bonhams in London.
The book is inscribed to Elaine Griffiths, Tolkien’s friend who had convinced him to published The Hobbit.
He had written the book with the intention of it being only for his children but luckily, Ms Griffiths managed to read it while visiting and it was she who got in touch with and recommended the book to George Allen and Unwin who went on to publish The Hobbit.
That first edition run of 1500 was soon sold and is still selling worldwide. Last count had it at over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
Also included in the auction is the last known potograph taken of him. The picture was given to Ms Griffiths by Tolkien’s daughter and on the back is written “For Elaine with love from Priscilla”.
The potograph has Tolkien against his favorite tree in the Oxford Botanical Gardens. The tree is a Black Pine which Tolkien had named Laocoon.
There is also the first translated copy, A Swedish version of The Hobbit, also signed by Tolkien. There are also various maps, photographs and manuscripts in the auction.
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