Hobbit 75th Pocket Edition printings

And here is the quick response from HarperCollins:

"As far as I am aware all the copies marked 1 went to Australia/New Zealand - we did an early print run in the summer to ensure it could be shipped there for them to publish simultaneously. I asked for the UK run to be marked 1 as well, but was overruled by the stock controllers!"

So get your overseas orders in place if you really want that "1".

Thanks for the information.

Do any of you know some retailers from Australia/New Zealand and have bought already from them?

Working on finding a source for us international (non Aus/NZ) folks.

In the meantime, HC has told me that the first and second impressions were each 22,000 copies.

Dior is in Australia and reports that the only online retailer that currently has it is at

http://www.booktopia.com.au/pocket-hobbit/prod9780007440849.html

It looks like they do not have it in stock yet, and shipping is high for the first book (but drops drastically after that, so order more than one. )

The first printing of the Pocket Hobbit was also distributed to Canada. We took a chance and ordered a copy from amazon.ca. This arrived this morning and happily has the "1" on the copyright page. It's a small hardcover in a dust-jacket and an extra paper band partly advertising The Art of The Hobbit.

Wayne & Christina

I just saw it today, in the flesh, in Waterstones (UK). Alas, it was a not a first impression, as predicted; if the distinction matters much in this case.

BH

Many Thanks Findegil.

Ordered a copy of The Pocket Hobbit from amazon.ca and it arrived today (along with a copy from the book depository which was pre-ordered).

The Book Depository copy is a 2nd Printing and the Amazon.ca copy is indeed a 1st Printing.

Was looking at / examining the books briefly today and they are by no means identical.

The First Printing is printed on a much lower quality (thin and dull) paper. The second printing is of a much better quality - bright white and heavier paper.

The result is that the Second Printing is about 50% thicker than the First.

I also noticed that the gilt title on the spine of the second printing reads "The Hobbit" over 2 lines whereas the First Printing just reads "Hobbit".

Has anyone seen this for sale in Australia, yet? We don't have that many proper bookshops left in Brisbane, and even the better ones don't tend to stock hardbacks...

Edit: I just wandered down to the local bookshop and they just got it in since the weekend. It is definitely a lot different than the second printing, so the hardcore collectors will no doubt want both.