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More than 50 years after his death, J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy masterpieces never cease to enchant audiences around the world.
Now, a rare first edition of Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” has been sold for £43,000 (€49, 500) at an online auction on Wednesday. The first edition was expected to fetch between £10,000-£12,000 at auction, ultimately selling for four times that amount.
The book is one of 1,500 original copies of Tolkien’s beloved novel, which was published in September 1937.
Only “a few hundred” from the initial print run remain and are considered “some of the most sought-after books in modern literature,” according to the British auction house Auctioneum.
Attracting bidders from across the world, the book was purchased by a UK private collector in what is believed to be a record price for a first edition.
The edition was discovered hidden on a bookcase during a house clearance in Bristol. After spotting its faded green cover, Auctioneum’s book specialist Caitlin Riley went on to meticulously inspect the well-preserved treasure.
“Nobody knew it was there,” said Riley. “It was clearly an early Hobbit at first glance, so I just pulled it out and began to flick through it, never expecting it to be a true first edition.”
The “rare find” is bound in light green cloth and features black and white illustrations by the author, making it even more unique as later editions colourised them.
“When I realised what it was, my heart began pounding,” shared Riley.
Tolkien developed the mythical world of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” during his time as a teacher at the University of Oxford.
The auctioned book was passed down in the family library of Hubert Priestley, a famous botanist with “strong connections” to the university.
Tolkien and Priestley most likely knew each other, according to Auctioneum, who said both men shared mutual correspondence with author C.S. Lewis.
“The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” are two of the best-selling books of all time, with more than 250 million copies sold worldwide.
The 2000s hit film franchise based on the books cemented their classics status for generations to come.