When it comes to collecting JRR Tolkien books it most of the time means the earlier the edition the better - resulting in higher prices for 1st editions than the later printings. The very first impression is always the most expensive and most wanted copy. The second biggest parameter is condition, where any flaw will devalue the book very much. Serious collectors like quality and the better the book, the more valuable it gets. To give an example, a first impression of The Hobbit can be really expensive, but when it sits in a nice clean original dust jacket (which is most of the time not the case) then the value can double or even triple - especially when the jacket is looking absolutely mint. In many cases one could even say that a mint dust jacket is more valuable then the book it holds! This is for sure true when we talk about The Hobbit. In 1937 the first impression of 1500 copies quickly sold out by December 15 and it can only be guessed how many copies are still in perfect shape today.

So when you try and find the most expensive copy of the Hobbit we must for sure look for a 1st impression with a fine dust jacket. The next thing that can push up the price is of course a signature by J.R.R. Tolkien. Also there we can see a difference, in general a signature on the title page is valued more then an autograph on the front free end paper or prelimenary blank pages. More valuable then a signature is a dedication by Tolkien, especially if the person is known or plays a key role in the live of Tolkien, or was a contributor to the publication process of The Hobbit. The last factor would probably be one of the most important, is this a period signature? Where we go back to our first rule, the earlier the better... a 1937 The Hobbit with a 1937 dedication will always be more valuable then a 1937 The Hobbit with a later autograph.

Today we will have a look at some very nice signed The Hobbit copies, all dating from 1937, that have been sold in the past. We will see what makes them so valuable and what they all have in common.

In 1937 Tolkien and his The Hobbit were not well know and as a result there are only few signed copies out there. Most, or maybe all, are presentation copies given to close friends, family or relatives. These The Hobbit books are called association copies... since all these hobbits have been dedicated to someone really important or close to Tolkien. Surely each of these books must be the crown jewels in the collections where they are housed now! Most of them were sold at the hight of the Lord of the Rings movie hype in 2002 and 2003, but around 2008 and 2009 some other pearls came on the market and I would not be surprised that over the next few years we will see some other association copies come on the market again and brake some new records.

I know it is a bad thing to show these books, since any Tolkien collector dreams to have such a book, and this article may just bring them a big depression. Most of us realize that these kind of hobbits are only for the rich and famous,... but to be honest they are so marvellous to look at and we can only hope these copies are being treasured and preserved in the best conditions.

So let us look at the most fabulous copies of The Hobbit in existence:

The Hobbit and Aunt Jane

During the secret courtship between Tolkien's father Arthur, and Mabel Suffield, it was Emily Jane Suffield (1872-1963) ("Aunt Jane") who passed letters between the two lovers. After the death of his father and during the illness of his mother, J.R.R. Tolkien was to stay with his aunt. The two formed a close relationship and, after the death of his mother, the friendship between Tolkien and Aunt Jane deepened on both personal and artistic levels.

In the 1920s Worcestershire locals refered to the lane which led to Aunt Jane's farm as "Bag End". The name was later used by Tolkien as the residence of Bilbo Baggins. In the early 1960s Aunt Jane asked her nephew for "a small book with Tom Bombadil at the heart of it...'" The result was The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, published the following year. A few months later Aunt Jane died.

The Hobbit publication on 21 september 1937

As we saw in the last presentation copy to "Aunt Jane", we know that Tolkien did sent it out on the day after the publication. As we can read in The Tolkien Companion & Guide, JRR Tolkien probably received twelve copies of The Hobbit, just on or just before 21 September. He did spend most of this important day, and probably several more, inscribing the copies to family, friends, colleagues and former students, writing letters and wraping and posting the books. The following recipients are known: Helen Buckhurst, Simonne d'Ardenne, E.V. Gordon, Elaine Griffths, Jennie Grove, the Jennings family, K.M. Kilbride (who Tolkien also sent a copy of Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics), Stella Mills, Dorothy Moore, Jane Neave and Hilary Tolkien. Just recently the copy by Hilary Tolkien was offered for sale, but I don't know if it sold. The copy of Jane Neave is the one we just talked about. Stella Mills' The Hobbit has been lavishly rebound, K.M. Kilbride is the following copy we will look at followed by that of the Jennings family and Elaine Griffiths. If I find images or info on the other copies, I'll be adding them here.

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