The Hobbit — 1987 Gold 50th Anniversary Edition, Book-Club Issue in Original Slipcase

The Gold Fiftieth-Anniversary Hobbit

The Houghton Mifflin fiftieth-anniversary collector’s edition of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, issued in 1987 to mark fifty years since the book’s first publication. This is the Book-of-the-Month Club issue, in the publisher’s gold binding and matching labelled slipcase.

Published in Boston by Houghton Mifflin Company and illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien. The copyright page carries ISBN 0-395-17711-1 and states that the book was printed in the United States of America. The small blind stamp at the lower right of the rear board identifies the book-club issue. The 1966 copyright date belongs to the revised text, rather than the date of this anniversary edition.

Christopher Tolkien’s Foreword and Tolkien’s Illustrations

Christopher Tolkien’s substantial new foreword discusses the writing and early publication of The Hobbit. It reproduces two pages from the surviving draft of the opening chapter, with six further illustrations and extracts from Tolkien’s letters, adding material of particular interest to readers of the book’s history.

The main text is illustrated with Tolkien’s colour plates and drawings. The monochrome pictures and the maps are printed in black and gold, echoing the binding. Thror’s Map and the Map of Wilderland are retained within the volume; the latter is photographed at the rear, before the plain olive-green endpapers.

Original Gold Binding and Slipcase

The gold-coloured, textured boards are decorated in green and red, with a runic border and the large green “50” anniversary device on the front. The spine repeats the runic decoration; the rear board is plain apart from the small book-club stamp. Plain olive-green endpapers complete the design.

The original gold-covered slipcase accompanies the book. Its rectangular label bears the title, anniversary device and Tolkien’s name in black. The photographs show the slipcase from both sides, the spine and opening, followed by the book outside it and the illustrated interior.

Condition

A very well-preserved and attractive book. The gold covering retains its lustre, and the green and red decoration is bright and clear. There is light handling wear, with minor rubbing and small bumps at the extremities. The photographed endpapers, title, foreword, text and map openings are clean and pleasing, with the paper a light cream colour.

The matching slipcase has light rubbing and surface marks, a few small scuffs or indentations, and wear at its edges and corners. Its label remains clear. The book and its original publisher’s slipcase are both included.

A handsome gold anniversary Hobbit, combining Tolkien’s own illustrations with Christopher Tolkien’s account of its creation.

Bibliographical reference: Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, pp. 62–63.

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