northman wrote:

Mr.Underhill both that 1st heidrek and the 1930 gawain look amazing. Front pictures? Sorry for the nagging but blame yourself ?☕☕

Here you go northman, both books side by side.

And Emilien, I’m working on a long form article on those HMCO Hobbits for the site. Hope to be done soon.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

And Emilien, I’m working on a long form article on those HMCO Hobbits for the site. Hope to be done soon.

Thank you Mr. Underhill
Can't wait !
I am myself focusing on early US editions of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. I like them very much, especially for the colour variations, for the Hobbit, but also for the Lord of the Rings (variations of the dust jackets, and binding, with some light blue variants).

Concerning the HMCO Hobbits, I managed recently to get at Library rebinding of the 1st edition (3rd state), a 14th printing 1963, and I have received today a copy of the 8th printing 1956 in very good condition (I'm really happy for this one since I managed to grab it for very decent price in regard of the rarity and condition.) I'm really going to fall in love with those US Hobbitses...

Nice specimens indeed. That Heidrek is pretty pristine.

Excellent Emilien, the '56 was one of my early acquisitions that started me down the path of wanting/getting them all.

There are a few 1955 7th prints that are rust brown colored (majority are khaki colored) floating around in the wild that me and another collector continually hunt for. We're not sure how many exist, could be one, could be ten...who knows, as we only know of one that exists for sure. Berelach has it.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

Excellent Emilien, the '56 was one of my early acquisitions that started me down the path of wanting/getting them all.

Haha ! May I follow your steps

Mr. Underhill wrote:

There are a few 1955 7th prints that are rust brown colored (majority are khaki colored) floating around in the wild that me and another collector continually hunt for. We're not sure how many exist, could be one, could be ten...who knows, as we only know of one that exists for sure. Berelach has it.

Yes I heard that story. I've read on this Wiki page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English- ... e_editions_of_The_Hobbit) that the 7th printing rust/brown binding colour is a bit darker than the 8th, and also it is a bit laminated (buckram?), while the 8th is clothbound.
Hope you will find it one day !

Gloinson wrote:

Stu wrote:

I'd be saving my cats and my boy (assuming my wife can save herself). The books can burn - I'm most definitely NOT going into a burning building for any of them!

I don’t think they meant it as a serious question. In the video, they state at the start of the hypothetical that loved ones are all safe. It is a thought experiment to draw out what books in one’s collection are the most treasured personally.

Thanks for the lesson in the patently obvious.

Emilien wrote:

Mr. Underhill wrote:

And Emilien, I’m working on a long form article on those HMCO Hobbits for the site. Hope to be done soon.

Thank you Mr. Underhill
Can't wait !
I am myself focusing on early US editions of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. I like them very much, especially for the colour variations, for the Hobbit, but also for the Lord of the Rings (variations of the dust jackets, and binding, with some light blue variants).

Concerning the HMCO Hobbits, I managed recently to get at Library rebinding of the 1st edition (3rd state), a 14th printing 1963, and I have received today a copy of the 8th printing 1956 (rust brown variant) in very good condition (I'm really happy for this one since I managed to grab it for very decent price in regard of the rarity and condition.) I'm really going to fall in love with those US Hobbitses...

That's a very nice '56 Hobbit! I fear that a "decent price" is still probably a lot of money, though, compared to just a few short years ago.

Stu wrote:

That's a very nice '56 Hobbit! I fear that a "decent price" is still probably a lot of money, though, compared to just a few short years ago.

Thank you Stu !
I bought it for $350. I think this would still be a decent price event if I would have purchase it back in 2018 or so.
This HMCO printing is not that comon at all (not seen a US '56 for the last two years on my radar.) Given the condition, this is a really nice catch for the price.
At $350 price point, according to the current market, you would better have a HMCO '61 or '63 nowadays, not always in the best condition...

Emilien wrote:

Stu wrote:

That's a very nice '56 Hobbit! I fear that a "decent price" is still probably a lot of money, though, compared to just a few short years ago.

Thank you Stu !
I bought it for $350. I think this would still be a decent price event if I would have purchase it back in 2018 or so.
This HMCO printing is not that comon at all (not seen a US '56 for the last two years on my radar.) Given the condition, this is a really nice catch for the price.
At $350 price point, according to the current market, you would better have a HMCO '61 or '63 nowadays, not always in the best condition...

$350 is a great price for today. Even back a few of years ago that would have been good. Nicely found!

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