"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book."
— Marcel Proust

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.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1963. [Children's Fantasy] SECOND EDITION, the fourteenth 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
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
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1954, 1954, 1955. [Epic Fantasy] FIRST EDITIONS, First impressions; signature '4' and 'sagging' type on p.49 of 'The Return', folding maps at rear of each volume. 3 volumes. Elegantly bound in full scarlet oasis morocco, gilt, with large gilt 'Eye of Sauron' motif blocked to..... More