The Hobbit Movies Raise Tolkienalia

Published on: 27th October, 2008

The Hobbit Movies Raise Tolkienalia  | read this item

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In March of this year a first edition copy of The Hobbit sold for $40 000 at Bonham’s in London. Would it have raised such a figure at auction if it weren’t for The Hobbit movie due for release in 2010?

The making of the Lord of the Rings movies certainly raised the profile of Tolkien and together with the internet, the profile of tolkienalia.

Having said that, The Hobbit book sold this year was no ordinary first edition copy. The Bonham catalogue explained:

“In general, a signed edition of The Hobbit is something most Tolkien collectors dream about, but this particular copy, however, can be called the pearl of all signed Hobbits; this is because it is dedicated and belonged to a pupil of Tolkien called Elaine Griffiths.”

It’s generally accepted that The Hobbit made it to print thanks to Elaine Griffiths as she was shown the transcript of the book Tolkien had written for his children. Miss Giffiths was a very good friend of Susan Dagnell who worked for publishers George Allen and Unwin and she passed on the transcript for a “professional opinion.” The book, one of 1500 first editions carried the inscription:

“To Elaine Griffiths, with best wishes from J.R.R.T.”

On November 4th a letter written and signed by Tolkien to editor John Roberts will go to auction, again Bonham’s on New Bond St. London.

The letter is conservatively estimated by Bonham’s to go for around $3000 but with interest rising yet again thanks to The Hobbit movie, you can expect it to go for far more than that.

There are plenty of collecters items available that don’t need a second mortgage which came on the market during the release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and there will be many more on the run up to The Hobbit movies.

If you are on the lookout for a bit of Tolkien memorabilia related to any of the movies always make sure it is officially licensed, otherwise it won’t have any chance of increasing in value a few years down the road. Always keep the box and the card of authenticity for the item somewhere safe as these will make the item worth far more when your kids come to sell their heirloom.

As the first Hobbit movie gets nearer expect demand for any items you purchased a decade a go as Lord of the Rings memorabilia to be in demand.

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