A one-of-a-kind early version of 'The Hobbit' fetches a whopping £43,000 at auction - Up for grabs: Uncommon first edition of The Little Hobbit fetches £43,000 at auction
In an exciting discovery, a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has been traced back to the family library of botanist Hubert Priestley, who had strong connections to the University of Oxford.
The book, found during a house clearance in Bristol, was a surprising find for Caitlin Riley, a rare books specialist at Auctioneum, who conducted the auction. The book, bound in green cloth and adorned with black-and-white illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself, was hidden in an old bookcase.
The discovery provides a direct connection between the found first edition, the University of Oxford through Priestley's academic activities, and the scholarly environment Tolkien was a part of. It is speculated that both Priestley and Tolkien knew or corresponded with author C.S. Lewis, who was also part of the academic circle at Oxford.
The book, written while Tolkien was a professor at the University of Oxford, has been sold over 100 million times worldwide. The auction attracted bidders from around the globe, and the rare book was sold for £43,000, four times the amount expected by the auction house.
The Hobbit is a piece of United Kingdom literature and the precursor to Tolkien's legendary Lord of the Rings series. In 2015, a first edition of The Hobbit inscribed in Elvish by Tolkien was sold at Sotheby's in London for around €187,000.
This discovery not only sheds light on the literary history of Oxford University but also on the connections between notable intellectuals of the time. The Hobbit's journey from Bristol to the auction block serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of Tolkien's epic fantasy.
[1] Hubert Priestley - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography [2] J.R.R. Tolkien - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography [3] C.S. Lewis - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Books from the intellectual circle of Oxford University often hold a unique charm, and this tale further illustrates the entertainments that originate from such a scholarly environment. This discovery, a first edition of the 'Little Hobbit,' or 'The Hobbit,' revealed connections between the University of Oxford, author C.S. Lewis, and the literary world.
