"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
— P.J. O'Rourke
J. R. R. Tolkien | First Editions
1892 - 1973
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE, is best remembered for the creation of 'Middle Earth' and the series of legends and adventures set within, beginning with the acclaimed children's tale The Hobbit (1936) and continuing through the epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings (1954-5) and the posthumously published mythopoeic volume The Silmarilion (1977).
His debut novel The Hobbit is a much-loved masterpiece, and seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as this classic story; its hero, Bilbo Baggins, has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals: Alice, Pooh, Toad... Tolkien's 'Middle-Earth' is a vast mine of treasures and knowledge, its roots delving deep into folklore, mythology and language, and The Hobbit is an ideal introduction to this richly imagined world, which was more fully and complexly realised in 'The Rings' series. This fantastical trilogy, comprising The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers and The Return of the King is regarded as one of the greatest works of the twentieth century, containing amazing details of a new mythology, never really surpassed. It is the basis for the hugely successful film series directed by Peter Jackson, 'The Return' [2003] winning a record 11 Oscars from 11 nominations.
See below our stock of J. R. R. Tolkien First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
Results 1 - 15 (of 15)
Beowulf and the Finnesburg Fragment.
London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1950. NEW EDITION, completely revised and notes and an introduction by C.L. Wren, and prefatory remarks by J.R.R. Tolkien. Octavo, pp.194. Handsomely bound in recent half black morocco, gilt titles and raised bands to spine, matching cloth sides. Occasional editorial remarks in pencil to margins..... More about Beowulf and the Finnesburg Fragment
![The Lord of the Rings [New Line Cinema, 2001]. Signed mounted digital print. J R. R. TOLKIEN, Ian...](/pictures/thumb/39386.jpg?v=1514979840)
The Lord of the Rings [New Line Cinema, 2001]. Signed mounted digital print.
no place, n.d. [ca.2001]. Black and white portrait image of 'Bilbo Baggins' as portrayed by Ian Holm in the Lord of the Rings Film series. Signed by Mr. Holm in silver pen. In an elegant and simple plain mount, ready for framing. Overall dimensions 40 x 34cm. More about The Lord of the Rings [New Line Cinema, 2001]. Signed mounted digital print
![The Silmarillion [Lord of the Rings]. J. R. R. TOLKIEN, Christopher TOLKIEN](/pictures/thumb/53672.jpg?v=1555597689)
The Silmarillion [Lord of the Rings].
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1977. [Fantasy] FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.365; [1]. Folding map to rear. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge tinted blue, pictorial dust-jacket illustrated with drawings by Tolkien, showing printed price of £4.95 to front flap. Lightly used... More about The Silmarillion [Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien A Biography.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1977. [Literary Biography] FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.287; [3], blank. Publisher's brown cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge tinted brown, lemon yellow endpapers, photographic dust-jacket showing price of £4.95 on a publisher's label to front flap. Foyles ticket to... More about J.R.R. Tolkien A Biography
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Other Verses from the Red Book.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1962. [Fantasy] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.64. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. Publisher's illustrated, paper covered boards, lettered in black, pictorial dust jacket priced at 13/6. Clean and bright, inside and out. A lovely fine copy. Originally advertised as an 'interim report' to those... More about The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Other Verses from the Red Book
Poems and Stories.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1980. [Short Stories and Essays] DELUXE FIRST EDITION THUS. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.342; [2]. With frequent chromolithographic illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Publisher's deluxe blue-black cloth with gilt titles to spine and a gilt and green illustration to upper board. Grey patterned endpapers; all edges... More about Poems and Stories
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.
London: The Folio Society, 1979. [Children's Classic] FIRST FRASER ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.245; [3]. With frequent wood engravings by Fraser. Publisher's maroon quarter leatherette with gilt titles and a gilt design by Jeff Clements, repeated to maroon cloth over boards. Tolkien's maps to endpapers. Top edge pink... More about The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
![Bilbo, en Hobbits Aventyr. [The Hobbit]. J. R. R. TOLKIEN, Tove JANSSON](/pictures/thumb/50633.jpg?v=1519665535)
Bilbo, en Hobbits Aventyr. [The Hobbit].
Orebro: Raben and Sjogren, 1962. [Fantasy novel]. FIRST JANSSON ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.308. Swedish translation. With occasional in-text and full page illustrations by Tove Jansson. In publisher's green quarter cloth with gilt titles to spine and pink, green and blue illustrated paper-covered boards. Internally fine; appears unread... More about Bilbo, en Hobbits Aventyr. [The Hobbit
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1961. [Children's Fantasy] SECOND EDITION, the thirteenth impression. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.315 [5]. With a chromolithographic frontispiece and occasional line-drawn illustrations by the author, as well as maps drawn by the author to endpapers. Publisher's green cloth with darker green titles and illustrations to... More about The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
![Hompen [The Hobbit, or There and Back Again]. J. R. R. TOLKIEN](/pictures/thumb/53291.jpg?v=1553359675)
Hompen [The Hobbit, or There and Back Again].
Stockholm: Kooperativa Förbundets, 1947. [Children's Fantasy] FIRST SWEDISH EDITION, being the first foreign language edition. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.269; [1] blank. With illustrations by Tarbjörn. Publisher's cloth-backed illustrated boards, endpaper maps. A few small marks to page edges, one or two short tears within (printed on thin paper), light..... More about Hompen [The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun.
London: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. [Poetry] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[viii]; 377. Publisher's brown cloth lettered in gold on spine, pictorial dust-jacket, photographic frontispiece. Internally clean and bright, slight wrinkle to upper spine-end, faint mark on back cover, cut in dust-jacket back cover. Near fine. This book is formed... More about The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun
The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1973. [Epic Fantasy] 3 volumes, octavo (23 x 15cm). The Revised Second Edition, seventh impressions. Publisher's red cloth, gilt titles, top edge red, in grey/green pictorial dustwrappers. No inscriptions or price-clipping. Discreet label mark to each flyleaf, red to the top edge and spine is... More about The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1955. [Epic Fantasy] First and early impressions. 3 volumes, octavo (23 x 15cm). Each volume complete with the folding maps at rear. Elegantly bound in half red morocco, gilt, over matching red cloth sides, top edge gilt. Clean copies inside and out. A uniform set... More about The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1955-6. [Fantasy Classic] Early printings (the firsts were published in 1954-5). Three volumes. Octavo (24 x 16 x 10cm), pp.[4]; 423; [1]; pp.352; pp.440. Elegantly bound in half burgundy oasis morocco, gilt, over matching cloth sides, top edge gilt. Internally clean, exterior unmarked. A fine... More about The Lord of the Rings. Being: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King
![The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; [and] The Return of the King....](/pictures/thumb/51266.jpg?v=1553187260)
The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; [and] The Return of the King.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1969. [Fantasy Classic] SECOND EDITION, later impressions. Three volumes. Octavo (24 x 16 x 10cm), pp.[4]; 423; [1]; pp.352; pp.440. Each volume complete with the folding maps at rear. Fourth impressions, all printed in 1969. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the... More about The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; [and] The Return of the King
Results 1 - 15 (of 15)