Andy Serkis signed 1st Hobbit

This will have devalued the book considerably, as it is not on a page that can easily be removed.

If you want to get actors from the films to sign books, use cheap copies.

I don't like that. Aside from the question of value, which I have no idea about, the signature is awful and does nothing for what looked like a well preserved, clean page. It seems to me that the book is being used as a talking point rather than being treated with care, which historically important/rare books should be.

I agree, this was not a good decision imho. In my mind it does not add any value to this book and even devalues it, rare editions should not be tinkered with ( only exception is if they are already in poor shape). I love Andy Serkis but just no.

I think of it this way.

If I had a choice between the same condition 1st impression at the same price - only difference being the signature, which one would I choose…?

My answer on this one is clearly the clean copy without the signature.

I would likely buy the one with the signature at a 10% discount and be forever irritated by this flaw.

Looks like a publicity stunt or clickbait.

Reviewing the video, it is actually a 2nd Edition, 13th impression hobbit…

So definitely not a 50000$ book…!!

And yes, even at this edition I would still prefer the clean version myself

Demis wrote:

Looks like a publicity stunt or clickbait.

Reviewing the video, it is actually a 13th impression hobbit…

So definitely not a 50000$ book…!!

And yes, even at this edition I would still prefer the clean version myself

The frontispiece of The Hill is the line drawing version of that artwork, which only appeared in the first impression if I recall correctly. On Facebook a user suggested it might be the facsimile edition, but why would you slap a thirteenth impression d/j on that... (Moreover, the top stain from that edition seems missing).

I know Reid. I’m willing to bet it’s a first edition hobbit that had some issues, and didn’t have a dust jacket, and he figured he wouldn’t be able to sell it well, so he was willing to ruin it to create controversy and publicity for his store.

He recently acquired a ton of 2nd editions on a trip to the UK (he tried to sell one to me but I didn’t like the price.) I bet he swapped a 2nd ed dust jacket onto it just for the video. I saw him at FAN X in SLC in the line, but didn’t know the book was 1st edition at the time.

He was getting a clapper board signed by the cast as well, I’m willing to bet there’s no provenance to the clapper board either but he’ll probably advertise it like it’s from the set. He said he'll do a tiktok about it soon. Guess we'll see.

Halbarad wrote:

so he was willing to ruin it to create controversy and publicity for his store.

There are not that many first editions still around, vandalizing one this like this is very sad. 😢

Trotter wrote:

There are not that many first editions still around, vandalizing one this like this is very sad. 😢

It’s a real tragedy. And I have lost what little respect I had for Reid Moon. Just another one of the shameless book sellers out there.