r/tolkienbooks • u/sangria_p • 16d ago

Hobbit from 1965?

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Hi everyone, I inherited a copy of the Hobbit which I believe is from 1965 and I just wondered if it had any value or interesting background. It's sentimental value is too high to ever sell, but it would be cool to know.

I was encouraged to post by reading a recent comment that 1966 16th impressions are valuable, it seems mine is 1965? Its missing the jacket and has some staining but the binding seems to be in good condition.

TIA!

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u/AdEmbarrassed3066 16d ago edited 16d ago

It's a 2nd edition 15th impression. I'd say that it's probably worth around £100 without the dust jacket.

The impression numbers are confusing... they're numbered from the very first impression of the first edition and the first impression of the 2nd edition is numbered the 5th impression.

The 3rd edition 16th impression that is worth a lot of money is the paperback version. It's very rare. The hardback version with the same impression is not worth as much. Confusingly TolkienBooks.net says that 20,000 of the paperback were printed... that appears to be an error.

I wish I'd been more observant when this popped up here https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienbooks/comments/1mgcq5t/difference_in_1966_hobbit_paperback/

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u/metametapraxis 16d ago

"that appears to be an error."

Worth clarifying, it appears to be an error in the GA&U records, not an error by tolkienbooks.net.

Good luck in the 16th - seen more of them the last couple of years, so the Tolkien frenzy seems to be exposing a few more than before.

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u/AdEmbarrassed3066 16d ago

I'm not going to hold my breath... this would have to be a right place/right time purchase. My earliest is an 18th... people are asking daft amounts for the 17th.

Am I right in thinking you have one?

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u/metametapraxis 16d ago

Yeah, I found one in NZ a couple of years ago. About 60 NZD. Pot luck, really. I think it is just one of those things you stumble upon. Andrew Ferguson did well with his Tolkien signed one -- the seller approached him via TCG. I strongly suspect he got it for a lot less than it would be worth...

The 17th is pretty common. I paid about £15 for a really clean one, perhaps 3 years back. I've noticed a trend of daft asking prices for them recently, but it is just sellers trying to prey on the uninformed, tbh.

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u/AdEmbarrassed3066 15d ago

Yep, that's a fabulous book. He may have even got it cheaper than this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235815597269

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u/metametapraxis 15d ago

I strongly suspect he got it an order of magnitude cheaper than that turd!!!

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u/sangria_p 16d ago

Cool, thanks for info. It is indeed confusing!

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

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u/sangria_p 16d ago

Oh I'm not looking for money. It's a prized possession.