THE HOBBIT1ST/1ST US PRINTING, 1938J.R.R. TOLKIENPLEASE VIEW OUR EBAY STORE WHICH IS NEATLY ORGANIZED FOR A GREAT BROWSING EXPERIENCE! Houghton Mifflin Company, 1938First Edition, First printing, Second State A near fine copy of the FIRST printing, in the second state dated 1938 to the title page with the “sitting elf” playing the flute. (First Printings in the first state have a “bowing elf”).The unrestored book is in the original slightly toned oatmeal cloth boards. The book has sharp corners, and no edgewear. The binding is tight and square. The front and rear end papers are in clean condition with no owner names, no bookstore stamps and no inscriptions, and depicts the map of the “Wilderland” to the front and rear end papers. The internal pages are very clean with No handling marks, No stains, No creased or bent pages. Barest hint of light faded foxing to the first few pages, otherwise No foxing. All pages present, including all the color plates and the black and white illustrations. This copy has the sitting elf playing the flute on the title page which makes this book a True edition, First printing in the second state. A clean example and delightful to read. Please see images.A fantastic clean copy of the first US printing of one of the most important books of the 20th century.This book is part of a collection. Please see our stores for other rare book listings.Please note the cost to ship includes full insurance. Insurance is calculated at the USPS rate of $1.00 per $100 of value and will show up as a handling fee on your invoice but is only the cost to ensure your book in transit.