Only now have I gained enough experience to take a shot at it
A little background
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.
Look for George Allen and Unwin as the publisher for a guaranteed valuable as they were his original publishers and ran until the late eighties.
Below I shall attempt to detail some of the works of Tolkien:
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 fro children but now touted as an adult friendly book due to advanced themes and lexis, The Hobbit has had a huge number of editions printed.
Editions with the iconic dust jacket sell for the most and the valuable years run from 1937 up to 1975.
A first edition with dust jacket has been known to sell for over £6,000.
early 1940's copies sell for close to the thousand mark with dust jackets, early 1950's copies sell for early hundreds and so on to the early 1970's editions which can reach £75 if excellent but are generally worth £30-£50.
Look out for hardback copies with the dust jacket that are pre-1975 for value.
The 1961 first edition paperback is also collectible selling for up to £100.
Folio and Deluxe editions are worth a decent amount too.
Folio Hobbit
This recent Folio edition is worth between £10-£20 despite the lovely covers, fine binding and black and white illustrations
Folio Hobbit
This recent Folio edition is worth between £10-£20 despite the lovely covers, fine binding and black and white illustrations
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.
Worth up to £200 for the first edition to at least £50 for last editions
Longmans Edition
A more obscure edition, this version was created primarily for schools.
Worth between £50 for a first edition and under £10 for a later edition.
A more obscure edition, this version was created primarily for schools.
Worth between £50 for a first edition and under £10 for a later edition.
George Allen and Unwin Hobbit
The iconic Hobbit design with the wonderful dust jacket.
This partcular book is from 1968 but editions with this dust jacket range from 1937 to 1975.
The iconic Hobbit design with the wonderful dust jacket.
This partcular book is from 1968 but editions with this dust jacket range from 1937 to 1975.
Valued from £6,000-£30 for the most recent
The 1975 Hobbit paperback
This book is a a particularly rare year and contains colour illustrations and the unique cover design.
Worth up to £10
This book is a a particularly rare year and contains colour illustrations and the unique cover design.
Worth up to £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.
Values range from £20-£5
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.
Values range from £20-£5
The First Paperback edition
This is the very rare 1961 first paperback.
With a never used before or after cover illustration and poor quality binding, these books are growing rarer and rarer.
Valued at £25 for a poor condition version to £100 for one in very fine condition.
This is the very rare 1961 first paperback.
With a never used before or after cover illustration and poor quality binding, these books are growing rarer and rarer.
Valued at £25 for a poor condition version to £100 for one in very fine condition.
The Guild Publishing Deluxe edition
This ratehr nice looking copy has a uniform Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion also and is one of the more unique copies.
Prices vary from £10 for a poor condition edition to over £60 in some cases.
This ratehr nice looking copy has a uniform Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion also and is one of the more unique copies.
Prices vary from £10 for a poor condition edition to over £60 in some cases.
The 50th Anniversary Edition
The 1987 50th edition is one of the most collected recent editions.
Valued between £10 and £25
The 1987 50th edition is one of the most collected recent editions.
Valued between £10 and £25
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.
Valued at £10-£25
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.
Valued at £10-£25
The Michael Hague edition
This particular edition has some of the nicest and most elaborate illustrations of any.
A large book and with completely unparalleled presentation, this book can be worth up to £30 for a first impression.
The earlier Folio
This particular folio edition is the middle edition between the 1979 deluxe and the 1990's popular Folio in terms of value.
Prices range from £10 to £30 in rare cases
Guild Publishing edition
Another rare GP edition with fine binding
Worth between £10 and £20
Guild Publishing edition
And another GP edition, worth slightly less than the above edition but still a nice rare copy to own.
Valued between £7.50 and £15
Worth between £10 and £20
Guild Publishing edition
And another GP edition, worth slightly less than the above edition but still a nice rare copy to own.
Valued between £7.50 and £15
The Modern anniversary edition
This 1990's edition is a nice modern revamp of the classic edition and worth up to £5
This 1990's edition is a nice modern revamp of the classic edition and worth up to £5
The modern Paperback
The standard modern paperback is ideal for children to read.
Worth generally less than £1 unless a first print of this edition in which case it could be worth up to £10
The standard modern paperback is ideal for children to read.
Worth generally less than £1 unless a first print of this edition in which case it could be worth up to £10
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.
Worth between £15 and £30
This rare boxset contains a unique edition of the book and many other extras including postcards, a CD with Tolkien reading excerpts and adverts.
Worth between £15 and £30
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.
The First Edition
The first editions of LOTR were published in 1954, 1954 and 1955 (sequential).
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 £1,000 for one book, with sets selling for £6,000 plus.
Later impressions such as the 1957 edition below can be worth between £30 without dustjacket and up to £150 in very fine condition
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The Later Second edition
This edition looks quite akin to the first edition and is in most aspects, even having the map at the back.
Unfortunately these aren't worth anywhere near as much ranging from £200 for a very fine first impression of the second edition set to under £5 a volume for later impressions without d/js
This edition looks quite akin to the first edition and is in most aspects, even having the map at the back.
Unfortunately these aren't worth anywhere near as much ranging from £200 for a very fine first impression of the second edition set to under £5 a volume for later impressions without d/js
The Deluxe Edition
As with the Hobbit Deluxe edition, this is one of the nicest versions available with stunning covers and an overall high presentation quality.
Printed on the ultra-thin India Paper (Bible paper), these books can range from £30 in poor condition up to £250 for a first edition.
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.
Can be valued up to £45 for a first impression down to £10 for a later in poor condition.
Alan Lee Illustrated
The later editions illustrated by Alan Lee are particularly nice although often too heavy to post viably on eBay.
With an R.R.P of £50, this large luxurious edition contains countless full page colour illustrations if incredible quality and is quite the copy for fans.
Valued at between £10 and £50 for the first edition.
The later editions illustrated by Alan Lee are particularly nice although often too heavy to post viably on eBay.
With an R.R.P of £50, this large luxurious edition contains countless full page colour illustrations if incredible quality and is quite the copy for fans.
Valued at between £10 and £50 for the first edition.
Unwin Hyman/ Later editions
These later editions of LOTR were produced during the late 1980's to the early 1990's and are reasonably collectible
Individually approx £5 and up to £30 for a very fine set
Guild Publishing Deluxe
Another GP edition but one that is rather rarer than the red cover version. Also available as The Hobbit and The Silmarillion in this form, these can be worth between £15 and £30.
The Vintage Paperback
This iconic paperback was first printed in 1968 and comes as a hardback also.
Worth the price for the covers alone, these can vary from under £5 for a later impression to £30 for a very fine first impression.
Worth the price for the covers alone, these can vary from under £5 for a later impression to £30 for a very fine first impression.
Later hardback compilations
There are many editions like this, each containing all three books with relative quality.
These can be worth from as low as a few pounds up to £10 for a very fine first impression.
These can be worth from as low as a few pounds up to £10 for a very fine first impression.
Modern Paperback
Modern paperback editions are worth less still and only ideal as reading copies or for children/ young teens.
Worth as little as 99p and up to £5 for a very fine first impression.
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.
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.
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.
The most valuable two are the Clowes and the Billing editions which can be a vlued at up to £30 each.
The BCA edition can reach £15 with d/j.
Later impressions vary from a few pounds up to £15
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.
The most valuable two are the Clowes and the Billing editions which can be a vlued at up to £30 each.
The BCA edition can reach £15 with d/j.
Later impressions vary from a few pounds up to £15
The Guild Publishing Deluxe
As seen above, this version also runs for the Silmarillion.
A nice copy can reach £25
Unfinished Tales
Another of Tolkien's later works, this book was of Tolkien's lesser writings.
The First Edition
The first is much akin to The Silmarillion and can be known to reach £25 at auction for a very fine first impression.
The first is much akin to The Silmarillion and can be known to reach £25 at auction for a very fine first impression.
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.
The copy below is valued at £15 approx.
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.
The copy below is valued at £15 approx.
Smith of Wootton Major
This short story is often described as 'charming' and quite rightly so! It is very small and contains lots of b/w illustrations.
A first edition can be worth up to £25 whilst later editions can be bought for as little as £5
Farmer Giles of Ham
The last of Tolkien's original classics, this short story is quite alike to Smith of Wootton Major.
Equally nice in terms of illustration and story, the first of this is much rarer and can be valued at low hundreds.
Later impressions from the early 70's can reach £15
Equally nice in terms of illustration and story, the first of this is much rarer and can be valued at low hundreds.
Later impressions from the early 70's can reach £15
The Book Of Lost Tales
Part of the Shaping Of Middle Earth set pioneered by Chrsotopher Tolkien, these two are quite collectible as a set.
Combined values in both first impressions - £40 if fine condition.
Some of th series are worth more whilst others less - these are quite collectible however and a complete set of all 12 can be worth £1,000 if all first impressions..
Part of the Shaping Of Middle Earth set pioneered by Chrsotopher Tolkien, these two are quite collectible as a set.
Combined values in both first impressions - £40 if fine condition.
Some of th series are worth more whilst others less - these are quite collectible however and a complete set of all 12 can be worth £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.
Standard first editions rarely sell for more than £5 but the deluxe edition below, signed by Alan Lee the illustrator can be worth over £50.
Tolkien related
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.
Valued at £10-£20.
And there you have it!
I hope you managed to stay until the end of this post - it was a rather long one.
I also hope you have learned a bit more about Tolkien and that the post can help you find some of Tolkien's earlier and more valuable books when you are next shopping.
As usual thanks for reading and a plus one, share or comment is always appreciated!
I hope you managed to stay until the end of this post - it was a rather long one.
I also hope you have learned a bit more about Tolkien and that the post can help you find some of Tolkien's earlier and more valuable books when you are next shopping.
As usual thanks for reading and a plus one, share or comment is always appreciated!
Enjoyed this. Prices seem to have gone up a lot in the last 6 years though, and it's a little frustrating that you only mention one American edition (and that one of the lesser known books). I personally prefer the American 1st edition dust jackets of the LotR trilogy to that of the British editions.
ReplyDeleteYeah, prices seem to have gone up a LOT. I'm a bit frustrated as well.
DeleteI have 1965 versions of LOTR, the Hobbit , two towers and return of the King I didn't see them pictured?
ReplyDelete