The Hobbit – 1958 Tenth Impression Signed by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Published by Allen & Unwin in 1958. Signed by the author on front fly-leaf.

The book is in Near Fine condition, without any fading or tanning of the dust jacket, no soiling and only the slightest of rubs or wear to the corners of the spine fold.

Previous owners name in pencil to the top corner of the map. Blind stamped address of previous owner on second fly-leaf.

The boards are the original green cloth with dark blue stamping of Tolkien's own Mountains and Dragon design, with only slightly bumped corners.
The title verso has the full printing history up to this tenth impression of 1958. The original dust jacket is correctly marked the 10th impression and both book and dust jacket are remarkably well preserved.

The dust jacket is not price clipped and in Near Fine condition, with only the most minor of rubbing to the edges, with a tiny bit of loss at the tips of the folds, but lacking any of the normal tears to the edges.

Tape from a former protective sleeve has left orange-brown marks on the maps, dust jacket and flyleaves. These marks, together with the pencil name and ownership stamp, qualify the overall near-fine assessment.

Edges of the text block are clean and unfoxed, with the top edge slightly dusty.

A beautiful copy, of an early printing, of this much sought after children's classic.

The companion triple-signed Lord of the Rings set is catalogued separately.

The recorded provenance states that the books were purchased for The Notre Dame High School, 145 Woodstock Road, Oxford, the address visible in the blind stamp.
Sr Julie Parry was the teacher of English and Classics at the school and regularly attended Professor Tolkien's lectures.
On one occasion she asked Professor Tolkien to sign these books.

The school was closed in 1970 and the books were then taken into a Sisters' private collection where they have been ever since.

A signed early Hobbit with a distinctive Oxford convent association and clearly documented copy-specific marks.

Digital photo's available, inquire if interested.

Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions.

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Interested: Please send email to info@tolkienlibrary.com.