Hobbit By Tolkien, J. R. R.

The Hobbit By Tolkien, J. R. R. published by Houghton Mifflin in 1955. Hardcover.

A good+ copy of an extremely scarce early Hobbit. The 1955 printing, of the 2nd Edition (which was printed in 1954 - 6th impression, 1955 - 7th impression and 1956 - 8th impression). So this is the 7th printing overall. (There were 4 printings of the 1st edition: 1937, 1942, 1946 & 1951). This copy is a stated 7th impression (noted on the dustjacket), published by Houghton Mifflin from sheets imported from Great Britain. Stated 7th impression on front flap, not price clipped, printed in Great Britain.

One of probably only 1000 imported from Allen & Unwin, lacking the printing history on title verso, to help them circumvent the import restrictions and US copyright laws. The book features the original dustjacket with the Mountains and Dragon design by the author. Contains the full color frontispiece "The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water", as well as the original line drawings by Tolkien.

The maps are in excellent condition, with the red and black ink still showing clear and bright against the endpapers. The first printed end page has a tear where the page was stuck to the spine (image 3). The first blank end paper is loose at the bottom and the binding is pulling between the first and second front end papers (image 5).

The riddles on pages 85 to 89 are numbered in pencil, with the first five erased, the first erasure causing a hole in the page. there is a closed margin tear on page 85/86 at top. The exterior is clean with no fraying.