The Tolkien Guide - Values, Info and more for The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings etc (An Antique Books Guide)

J.R.R Tolkien is one of the most collected authors out there and the huge range of editions and books under hid name provide a great place for a collector to begin their own collection.

I started out this way and his books are an important market to understand. 

Not just that but they are beautifully written and illustrated, and this guide hopes to show you many of his works complete with realistic prices.

If you have one or are looking to buy one, this guide is for you! I have put a lot of time and effort into making this guide and it is perhaps one of the most comprehensive and up to date on the internet. Each book has tips for collectors and realistic prices to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

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   Please note that all photography is my own - if you wish to use an image please just ask

A little background

J.R.R Tolkien is one of the best selling authors of all time and not just because of the big money film franchises that arrived post 2000.

He also happens to be one of the most valuable to book collectors and is my favorite author of all time.

When Tolkien's revolutionary 'The Hobbit' arrived on bookshelves in 1937 , it redefined fantasy and introduced the genre to a new audience. Some consider it to have been the Harry Potter of the time.

The popularity was so great that his publisher requested a new series and thus The Lord of the Rings came about.

Many believe this to be the greatest fantasy trilogy of all time, containing themes and influences that range from mythology to religion and even to Tolkien's hatred for industry.

Whilst writing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien amended The Hobbit with several inclusions to make the narratives link better and when the first part of The Lord of the Rings was finally released in 1954 it also received the acclaim that The Hobbit had.

Tolkien also worked on several smaller novels including 'Smith of Wootton Major' and 'Farmer Giles o Ham' and left a legacy for his son, Christopher Tolkien to work upon.

The Tolkien empire is now vast with films still set to be released and edition after edition of his works being printed for new audiences. 

Below are a list of Tolkien's books complete with description and price breakdowns:

The Hobbit

Published in 1937 with a very limited print run, this book is Tolkien's most famous and arguably the most famous fantasy book of all time. Originally written for children but now touted as an adult friendly book due to advanced themes and lexis, this book is one of the most collected of any fictional works.

Look out for:
Hardback copies with the dust jacket that are pre-1975 for real value.

George Allen and Unwin Hobbit

The original Hobbit book with the Iconic dust jacket.

This design ran from 1937 up to 1975 with only minor alterations and as such is the classic Hobbit edition. As with most collectible books, editions with dust jackets and in good condition sell for the most

The first editions can reach over £6,000 at auction whilst later impressions drop to £20 approx. Here's a quick value guide for the George Allen and Unwin illustrated Hobbit:

First Edition/ Impression 1937 - £6,000+

First Edition 1932-1946 - Between £400 and £1,000+

Second Edition 1951-1965 - Between £80 up to £300 

Third Edition 1966-1975 - Between £15 and £80 year and condition dependent

Folio Hobbit

The Folio Soicety is best known for producing a range of high-quality finely-bound books and have produced a range of books featuring Tolkien's works. This recent Folio edition is worth little despite the lovely covers, fine binding and black and white illustrations

Modern Folio Hobbit - £10-£20

This rare Deluxe Edition is far more valuable than the modern Folio reprints like the above book. The value stems from the facts that, being published in 1976, this is the first Folio edition.

First edition - £90-£140

This early Folio edition is the middle edition between the 1976 deluxe and the 1990's popular Folio in terms of value and is possibly the least attractive of the three.

Any impression with these covers - £10-15

Deluxe Edition

These versions started in 1976 and are known for their incredible quality throughout from the luxurious binding to the incredible cover designs. This is THE edition for the collector thanks to the attractive binding, high quality paper and colour illustrations reproduced to an impressive standard.

First edition - £200 approx
Later editions £50-£100 

Longmans Edition

A more obscure edition, this version was created primarily for schools.

The sterile covers make this one a rather unique edition comapred with the many other editions of The Hobbit but it is hard to find one in excellent condition due to the school-based distribution.

First edition £30-£50
Other editions - £5-£20

The 1975 Hobbit paperback

This book is a a particularly rare year and contains colour illustrations and the unique cover design that mimics the original first edition in style.

1975 edition - £5-£10

The Vintage Paperback

This is the classic paperback edition with covers using a drawing from Tolkien's own hand.

Starting in 1966 this edition ran to the mid 1970's and was the definitive children's Hobbit.

First edition - £20
Later editions - £3-15 

The Puffin Paperback edition

This is the very rare 1961 first paperback edition of The Hobbit.

With a cover illustration that was never used again and poor quality binding that ages badly, these books are growing rarer and rarer.

1961 edition - £20 in poor condition to £100 in top condition 

The Guild Publishing Deluxe edition

This rather nice looking copy is uniform with a similar edition of the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion also and is one of the more unique copies. The attractive faux-leather binding makes it look far older than the real age and is great in a bookshelf thanks to the decorative spine.

1978 First edition - £10-£60 condition and market dependent

Later impressions £3-£30

The 50th Anniversary Edition

The 1987 50th edition is one of the most collected recent editions and features the original design for the dustjacket and many never-before-seen illustrations inside drawn by Tolkien.

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1987 - £10-20

The 1978 Fourth Edition

The fourth edition may not be quite as collectible as the third, second or first editions (all of which have the classic iconic covers) but is nonetheless sought after thanks to the original and striking cover designs and colour illustrations throughout..

Valued at between £10 and £25

The Easton Press edition

The Easton Press is known for very high quality and quirky editions of classic books and they happened to have turned their eye to Tolkien's Hobbit, Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings books.

This is one of the more obscure yet most delightfully presented editions of The Hobbit and features bright and vivid illustration by Michael Hague as well as gilt detailing to the covers and page edges.

1984 edition or later - £50-£80

Similar values for the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion by the Easton Press.

The Michael Hague edition

This particular edition has some of the nicest and most elaborate illustrations of any yet published.

A large book and with completely unparalleled presentation, this book features many double page illustrations and is oversized, making it stand out among other editions.

1984 edition - £10-£25

The Hobbit 3D

One of the most unique editions of The Hobbit is this rare Pop-Up edition complete with 3D Smaug. The pop-ups are truly imaginative and also rather delicate meaning that complete edition is rather rare.

3D edition - £5-£25 condition and market dependent

Anniversary (75th) with Slipcase

The Deluxe Anniversary edition is a facsimile replica of the original First Edition and is a very nice copy to own with the first edition cover replicated on the slipcase and book covers and many colour plates inside.

75th edition deluxe - £10-£20

The 75th Anniversary Pocket edition

This compact edition is similar to the deluxe 75th but smaller and with an equal level of quality in presentation.

First edition of this form - £15
Other editions - £5-£10

Guild Publishing edition

A variation on the 1978 Guild Publishing edition, this version features more classical binding and is somewhat rarer but not necessarily more valuable.

£10-£25 in rare cases

Here is another Guild edition, worth slightly less again due to the lainer covers. Still a nice copy to own.

£7.50 to £15

The Modern anniversary edition

This 1990's edition is a nice modern revamp of the classic edition, similar to the 1978 or 1987 edition in design.

Any edition with these covers - £3-£7.50

The modern paperback

The standard modern paperback is ideal for children to read.

First edition - £5-£10 in correct market
Any other - £1-£3 

Limited Box Set

This rare boxset contains a unique edition of the book and many other extras including postcards, a CD with Tolkien reading excerpts and adverts. This is a rather rare version and nice for those seeking a contemporary edition.

Complete box set - £15-£25

The Lord Of The Rings

Few trilogies have had such influence as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

The amount of work and time Tolkien invested into this set of books is incredible - so detailed in fact that his son managed to create a series of twelve books just referring to the fictional world of Middle Earth that Tolkien created. Needless to say these book are hugely collectible, with nearly as many editions published as there have been printed of the Hobbit.

It is popular for publishers to condense the three books into one volume.

Look out for:

Copies with dust/jackets sell best and anything pre 1966 are worth at least £20 if in good condition. The real money lies in the 1950's copies however.

The First Edition

The first editions of LOTR were published in 1954, 1954 and 1955 (Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King respectively). Issued with the now famous dust jacket design and containing a large fold out map at the rear of the book, these editions are immensely sought after and valuable.

True firsts can be worth in excess of £700 for one book, with pristine sets selling for thousands.

First edition and impression - £300-£700 condition and market dependent
Later impressions - Up to £200 for second impressions and dropping to as low as £30 for late 1950's editions, again condition dependent.

The Second edition

This edition looks quite akin to the first edition and is similar in most aspects, even featuring the fold-out map at the back. Unfortunately these aren't worth anywhere near as much as the first edition as they are published ten years after the first, during the period when Tolkien began to become established as a modern fantasy icon.

1966 First impression of Second Edition - £10-£30 market and condition dependent
Late impressions - £5-£15

Set - £15-£100 condition and impression dependent

The Deluxe Edition

As with the Hobbit Deluxe edition, this is one of the nicest versions available and features stunning covers and an overall high presentation quality. Printed on the ultra-thin India Paper (Bible paper), these books are highly collectable and very limited.

1966/1967 First edition - £100-£200 market dependent

Later impressions - £30 - ££100 condition and impression dependent

A set of this book and The Hobbit can add value also.

The Guild Publishing Deluxe edition

As seen with The Hobbit, this edition is unique compared with most other editions, having faux leather covers and a nice gilt deign that makes the book appear far older than it really is.

First impression - £20-£45

Later impressions/ editions - £5-£20 condition dependent

Alan Lee Illustrated

Alan Lee is one of the contemporary illustrations of Tolkien's works and this comprehensive and heavily illustrated editions is one of the finest available. With an R.R.P of £50, this large luxurious edition contains countless full page colour illustrations of impressive quality and is a great collectable copy to own but rather heavy for posting.

First edition/ impression - £30-£40
Later editions - £10-£25

Unwin Hyman/ Later editions

These later editions of the Lord of the Rings were produced during the late 1980's to the early 1990's and are reasonably collectible, especially as a set. Each volume is rather similar to the Second editions volumes inside but feature less iconic dust-jackets and are rather more common.

Individual first impression - £10-£20
Individual later impressions - £1-£10
Set - £10-£40 

Guild Publishing Deluxe

Another Guild edition but one that is rather rarer than the gilt and burgundy version. Also available as The Hobbit and The Silmarillion in this form, these feature tooled leather style binding and look more severe and formal than many other editions, making them ideal for a professional's bookcase.

Any edition - £15-£30

Modern Centenary paperback 

Alan Lee's illustrated LOTR is also available as a paperback set of large, heavy high quality books. The presentation level is high and these make ideal books for someone wishing to read rather than collect this famous series.

Remember that the weight means postage costs for transporting these will be high.

Individual - £3-£10
Set - £10-£30 condition/ impression dependent.

The Vintage Paperback

This iconic paperback was first printed in 1968 and comes as a hardback also.

The covers are truly remarkable and will be remembered fondly by many who grew up in the 1960's-1970's. The text is quite small and this is a rather compact edition considering that all three volumes are inside.

First edition/ impression - £20-£30
Later impressions - £3-£15

Later hardback compilations

There are many editions like this, each containing all three books and offering an ideal way to collect the three volumes without taking up too much money or space. These compilation volumes are generally late eighties to early noughties and hold minimal value due to the modernity of their printing.

Any edition similar to these- £1-£15 

Modern Paperback

Modern paperback editions are worth less still and are only ideal as reading copies for those who just want to see what the Lord of the Rings is all about without the hassle or cost of collecting a rare edition.

Any similar edition - £1-£5

 The Silmarillion

Tolkien's other great work is The Silmarillion.

Although by no means as popular as the previous two titles discussed above, this book is a nice addition to the Middle Earth franchise, first published in 1977 and detailing the history before Bilbo's legacy in Middle Earth.

Look out for:

There are three first editions and the two more valuable ones will be published by George Allen and Unwin.

First Edition

The Silmarillion actually has three first editions being the William Clowes, the Billing and Sons and the Book Club Associates, each coming with the blue dust jacket and fold out map at rear.

Each is identifiable by examining the print details page and must show first impression as stated.

William Clowes first edition - £10-£30
Billing & Sons first edition - £10-£30
Book Club Associated first edition - £5-£15

Later impressions - £3-£15

The Guild Publishing Deluxe

This edition looks far more classical than most and appeals to those seeking a professional bookcase. This edition is one of the nicest of all Silmarillions.

First edition - £10-£25
Later impressions - £8-£20

Unfinished Tales

This is one of Tolkien's later works and was helped along by J.R.R Tolkien's son, Christopher Tolkien.

This large volume contains a range of stories of Middle Earth and a fold out map similar to those found in copies of The Silmarillion. This book is important for showing that the market was still interested in Tolkien, even after his death and allowed Christopher Tolkien to continue with his effort in publishing and refining much of the huge project left behind by his father.

Look out for:

First editions with dust-jackets that haven't faded are worth the most.

The First Edition

The first is much akin to The Silmarillion and features a bold dust-jacket and a fold out map at rear much like The Silmarillion. The definitive copy.

First edition/ impression - £10-£50 condition and market dependent

Later impressions - £3-£15

 The American First edition

As with all of Tolkien's other books, Houghton Mifflin picked up the publishing over in the States and produced a range of Tolkien's works. These can also be quite valuable although not quite as valuable as George Allen equivalents. This particular American edition is one of my favourites and is nearly as collectible as the English first edition.

First edition - £15-£25

Smith of Wootton Major

This short story is often described as 'charming' and quite rightly so! It is very short and tells, quite simply, the tale of a baker. The illustrations are by the famous Pauline Baynes who also illustrated the C.S Lewi 'Narnia' series. A small but important book in Tolkien's portfolio as it shows a lighter side of his work.

First Edition

The original edition.

First edition - £15-£20

Later editions

The later editions is similar in appearance to the first edition but with a white edge to distinguish it.

Later editions - £1-£8

Farmer Giles of Ham

The best known of Tolkien's original classics, this short story is quite alike to Smith of Wootton Major.

Equally nice in terms of illustration and narrative, this story is in fact far more valuable than Smith of Wootton Major as it was written in the late 1940's!

First edition - £100 - £250 market and condition dependent

Later impressions. editions - £5-£25

Later Hardback Edition

Later editions can still be worth a little such as the copy below which offers a more colourful and contemporary appearance.

Later editions - £3-£8

 The Book Of Lost Tales

Forming part of 'The History of Middle Earth'

Part of the History Of Middle Earth set pioneered by Christopher Tolkien, these two are quite collectible as a set and the most popular of the ten volumes published. These books are testament to Tolkien's popularity and are important to serious collectors of Tolkien for this reason. They also give highly intricate glimpses into Tolkien's frame of mind and his elaborate creations, ranging from created languages to myth and folklore references.

Look our for:

'The People's Of Middle Earth' and 'Morgoth's Ring' are both excessively rare and valued at between £120-£200 each.

Single volume in first edition form - £10-£20

Single volume - later editions - £3-£8
Both in first edition - £20-£40

Some of the series are worth far more whilst others less - as a whole the ten volumes are quite collectible however and a complete set of all 12 can be worth up to £1,000 if all first impressions..

The Children Of Hurin

A much more recent book, this one was printed with help from Christopher Tolkien once more and aimed at a 2000's generation. Standard first editions rarely sell for more than £5 but the deluxe edition below is worth far more.

These Deluxe editions were made popular by Harper Collins, the publshers, and are avilable for many of his top books. This version features illustrations by Alan Lee and is signed by him in some cases.

Deluxe standard edition - £20-£30

Signed edition - £40-£60

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

This book features a range of Middle Earth themed stories and is again similar to Smith of Wootton Major in terms of size and buoyancy of narrative.

First edition - £40-£100

Later editions/ impressions - £5-£20

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

This is one of the most recent of Tolkien's books, second only at this moment in time, to the Fall of Arthur - a book which unfortunately will not grace this guide.

This epic poem is influence by Norse myth and legend and shows Tolkien's deep undertsanding of this foreign culture.

Standard editions are worth £1-£5 but the Deluxe edition is worth far more as seen with the Children of Hurin also.

Deluxe edition - £20-£35

Mr Bliss

This is perhaps my favourite of Tolkien's books once we exclude The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.Originally written as a colourful story for his children, this book is reproduced in facsimilae form, meaning that we can see exactly what the children would have read.

From the charming illustrations to the humorous elements fit for adult reading too, this book is a delight to read and shows a rare example of cheer in Tolkien's writing.

First edition - £10-£20

Later editions - £5-£10

Tolkien/ Middle Earth related books

There are countless Tolkien inspired or related texts such as The Art Of The Hobbit which looks into Tolkien's illustrative capabilities.

Valued at £10-£20.

The Shaping Of Middle Earth Series

As mentioned already in this post, these twelve books are worth varying amounts but are generally worth a minimum of £20 if in first edition state and with dust jacket.

Several, such as The War Of The Jewels can be worth hundreds for their rarity.

The Shaping of Middle Earth - £15 in first edition form

The Letters Of J.R.R Tolkien

This is one of the most valuable of the later books and is similar in style to Unfinished Tales. This book is published by George Allen and Unwin, Tolkien's original publishers, and gives a detailed examination of Tolkien's letter writing skills. Sells well and is a modern classic.

First edition - £10-£40 market and condition dependent.

 Other Titles

The fantastic landscape of Middle Earth has created a range of spin-off style publications, of varying quality and style.

The Hobbit's Journal is a diary-style book with nice illustrations but limited value.

Any edition - £3-£5

Thanks, as ever, for reading. This one took a lot of time and effort and I hope that I have done Tolkien's works justice and perhaps helped you, the reader, in choosing what to buy or sell.

As ever, please share and comment as that's the only way I can expand by readership.

Thanks