I have come across this edition on the website of a small second hand store for 10 euros:
http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=186

It says it's sewn on the webpage however I am not so sure that's true so I asked them to verify. If any of you would happen to know whether it is or not I would love to know!

However if it is glued gatherings I think I'll just go for it (as opposed to "perfect" glue). I think the only thing it lacks is the Mirkwood illustration. Since I don't think I'll find a version that has all of the illustrations and the "original jacket" with a sewn binding anyways. On top I do actually like this jacket a lot, it has better colors imo than the 2007 version ( http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=222 ). And I do actually like the red sun and dragon covers more than the ones without it.

So hopefully it's in a good state and then I might order it! I do want to thank everyone who contributed on this thread so far A LOT! Teaching me what kind of bindings the Hobbit releases generally had, showing me the "TolkienBooks" websites and how to utilize them to differentiate between the editions has helped A LOT in learning what kind of book I want and how to find it, and hopefully this one will be it!

Seems like it wasn't sewn after all and he didn't know whether it was perfect bound or glued gatherings so I ended up not ordering it. I'll keep looking though!

It is glued gatherings, I mentioned all the UK sewn editions earlier in the post.

Are you 100% sure about that? Just making sure because I won't be able to return it. We're both talking about this edition right? http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=186

Sorry for having doubts because the 2007 version (http://tolkienbooks.net/php/details2.php?id=222) of this book has perfect binding is why I'm so scared to order it.

Do you by any chance own it, is that how you know? But if you can guarantee it I will order it right now!

Yes, I do, I own all the editions of the UK Hobbit in hardback apart from one, and the one that I don't own is not relevant to your inquiry. That is how I was able to state which copies were sewn.

The 2007 edition also has gathered bindings.

Alright I ordered it! Thanks for your help throughout this journey. I'll let you know once it has arrived and how I feel about it.

Perhaps the one I received (mentioned in the initial post) is a later impression where they cheaped out on it a bit.

TolkienNewbie wrote:
Perhaps the one I received (mentioned in the initial post) is a later impression where they cheaped out on it a bit.

I'm not sure on what you mean by "cheaped out on it a bit", but all these impressions are the same, they have the same binding, dustjackets, book contents and how the gatherings or pages are attached, glued or sewn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_(bookbinding)

Sorry for it having taken so long, I was not home but I did receive the book and am over halfway through it. The binding IS perfect bound unless the gatherings are incredibly small and I'm mistaken it for perfect binding because of it. However I don't mind it as much, the dust jacket is fine, the cover has a nice green to it with golden letters on the spine and I've been enjoying the story more or less.