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>Annotated Hobbit 1988 First Edition Signed Anderson Hobbit Day Association Copy Tolkien
#pc0372b - Annotated Hobbit 1988 First Edition Signed Anderson Hobbit Day Association Copy Tolkien - Euro 1000

First edition of The Annotated Hobbit (1988), inscribed by Douglas A. Anderson to Tolkien collector Don Stephan on Hobbit Day (22 September). A rare association copy with exceptional provenance.

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The Annotated Hobbit – First Edition, First Printing, Inscribed by Douglas A. Anderson to Tolkien Collector Don Stephan, Dated Hobbit Day (22 September 1988).


An exceptional association copy, inscribed on the most significant date in Tolkien’s legendarium and linked to a noted Tolkien collector.



This is the true first edition, first printing (1988) of The Annotated Hobbit, published by Houghton Mifflin to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the American publication of The Hobbit.

What elevates this copy significantly is the full contemporary author inscription by Douglas A. Anderson, written upon publication:

“For the full birthdays of:
Bilbo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
and Erica Stephan
with the good wishes of
Douglas Anderson
22 September 1988”

The inscription is dated 22 September 1988, a highly significant date in Tolkien’s legendarium, marking the shared birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins — widely celebrated as Hobbit Day. This creates a remarkable and intentional connection between the subject of the work and the moment of inscription.

The book is inscribed to Don Stephan, a known Tolkien collector, referenced within the wider field of Tolkien bibliography and associated with the work of Douglas A. Anderson and Wayne G. Hammond.

About the work
The Annotated Hobbit remains one of the cornerstone publications in Tolkien studies, presenting the complete text of The Hobbit alongside extensive annotations, scholarly commentary, and over 150 illustrations drawn from international editions, as well as Tolkien’s own artwork.

Condition
A superb copy in near fine condition, with clean boards, tight binding, and a fresh interior. The original dust jacket is bright and well-preserved, housed in a protective archival sleeve.

Bibliographic details
– Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston
– Year: 1988
– Edition: First Edition, First Printing
– Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
– Annotated by: Douglas A. Anderson

A rare opportunity to acquire a signed association copy dated on Hobbit Day — combining publication timing, literary significance, and collector provenance in a way seldom encountered on the market.
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