"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. "
— Oscar Wilde

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: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1991. [Fantasy] FIRST THUS, omnibus edition. Three volumes in one. Octavo (26 x 18cm), pp.1193 [7]. With numerous colour plates illustrated by Lee and a map. Publisher's brown cloth, lettered in gilt to upper and spine. With the pictorial dust-jacket by Lee priced at £30 to front flap..... More
London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1991. [Fantasy literature] Three volumes. Octavo (22 x 14 x 12cm). Illustrated with maps. Publisher's black cloth hardcovers blocked in silver to spine, Harlequin style illustrated dust-wrappers, each priced at £16.99. No ink names or signs of ownership. Contents clean, page edges gently toned else fine. A vintage..... More
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1977. [Fantasy] FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, domestic issue. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.365 [1]. Folding map to rear. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge blue. With the dust-jacket illustrated with drawings by Tolkien, priced at £4.95. A lovely crisp, clean copy..... More
London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1995. [Children's Fantasy Adventure] LEATHER-BOUND SIXTH EDITION, First Thus. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[8] 272. With 13 illustrations by the author, including five colour plates. Recently re-bound in green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, matching cloth over boards, and green endpapers. With the original..... More
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1961. [Fantasy Classic] FIRST EDITION, the eleventh, eighth, and eighth impressions respectively. Complete in three volumes. Octavo (23 x 15 x 10cm), pp.423 [1]; pp.352; pp.416. With a folding map at the rear of each volume. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spines and..... More
London: Book Club Associates, 1971. [Fantasy Classic] FIRST HARDBACK ONE-VOLUME EDITION WITH JACKET. Octavo (21 x 13cm), pp.1077 [1]. With occasional maps illustrated by the author. Publisher's brown cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the colour-illustrated dust-jacket, not priced. Lacking flyleaves, some toning to edges and jacket spine, otherwise..... More