During a house clearance in Bristol, a rare first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s The Hobbit sold for £43,000 at auction. The copy, one of only 1,500 printed in 1937, was found without its original dust cover in the family library of botanist Joseph Hubert Priestley, whose connections to Oxford University suggest he may have personally known Tolkien.
The book was sold through British auction house Auctioneum in Bath to a private UK collector, attracting bids from around the world and fetching more than four times its estimated value of £10,000–£12,000. Caitlin Riley, Auctioneum’s rare books specialist, described it as “a wonderful result for a very special book,” noting that it may be a record price for a first edition without a dust cover.
Riley explained that the discovery was entirely unexpected. While sorting through an ordinary bookcase, she noticed the distinctive light green cloth binding, illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Tolkien himself. She described the book’s condition as “astonishingly rare” for a children’s book from that era, as it showed no visible signs of handling or marking.
The provenance of the copy added to its appeal. Priestley, the brother of Antarctic explorer Sir Raymond Edward Priestley, was associated with Oxford University during Tolkien’s tenure as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon. Both men, being acquainted with fellow Oxford academic and author C.S. Lewis, brought up the possibility that Priestley and Tolkien knew each other personally.
Auctioneum emphasised that the book could easily have been discarded if not for the careful eye of its staff. Riley said: “House clearances can be tricky… this could have so easily been sent to landfill.”
The Hobbit is among the most successful children’s novels ever published, with more than 100 million copies sold. Set in the richly imagined world of Middle-earth, it follows the reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins as he joins a company of dwarves on a quest to reclaim treasure from the dragon Smaug. The level of success achieved by the story motivated Tolkien’s grand follow-up, The Lord of the Rings, which resulted in a significant film trilogy helmed by Peter Jackson in the 2010s.
First editions of The Hobbit are regarded as very collectible, especially if they have their original dust jackets or author inscriptions. In 2015, a version containing a handwritten message in Tolkien’s imaginary Elvish tongue fetched £137,000 at Sotheby’s. Consideration of the copy’s state heavily influences its value, with numerous existing copies showing extensive wear from use.
The discovery in Bristol showcased Tolkien’s personal illustrations, thereby enhancing its uniqueness. Riley thinks that the historical importance, excellent condition, and potential personal ties to the writer played a major role in the intensity of bidding for the copy, as the demand for Tolkien’s works has remained strong for decades. Aimee Peake, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of Canada, described The Hobbit as “one of the Holy Grails of book collecting,” saying the novel continues to resonate with readers across generations, attributing its lasting appeal to its imaginative world-building and relevant themes, calling it “a shared cultural experience” that could be enjoyed worldwide.
Peake, who recently visited the Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand, noticed that Tolkien’s creations captivated fans of all ages. The enduring popularity of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings has been further boosted by adaptations, including Jackson’s award-winning film trilogy and Amazon Prime’s ongoing series, The Rings of Power.
For Riley, the find represents a career highlight. She recalled the moment a colleague brought the book to her after spotting it on the shelves: “As soon as I saw him get out of the car with the book, I knew straight away… things got really emotional.”
While the £43,000 sale has drawn international attention, Riley says the search for rare literary treasures never stops. “Everyone dreams of finding that one thing that’s going to make an amazing story,” she said. “Who knows what might turn up next?”
