Sotheby's Auction Dec 10, 2013

Sotheby's has four Tolkien lots in their upcoming December 10th auction in London - the outstanding lot being 405, a signed first Japanese edition of The Hobbit - the book itself is scarce enough, and having a clean signature and dedication in Tolkien's handwriting makes this near one-of-a-kind, if not unique. I certainly have never seen another signed Japanese 1st Hobbit before in my years of collecting. The other three lots are somewhat scarce and interesting, but nothing remarkably outstanding. These are certain to find good homes, but I do believe there will be significant interest in that signed copy.

Sotheby's
The Library of an English Bibliophile Part III
10 December 2013, 10:30 AM GMT, London UK


Lot 404
Tolkien, J. R. R.
The Hobbit
BOSTON AND NEW YORK: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO., 1938
8vo, first American edition, first impression, four coloured plates and other illustrations by the author, illustrated endpapers and upper cover of binding bound in at end, later full scarlet morocco by Asprey & Garrard with a design after 'The Hill: Hobbiton across The Water' on upper cover and 'The Misty Mountains looking West from the Eyrie towards Goblin Gate' on lower cover both in coloured morocco onlays, spine gilt in compartments, red silk moiré endpapers, gilt edges, abrasions and repairs to first map endpaper, slight scratches to edges
Estimate: £2,000 — 3,000
Sold for £4,375 including buyer's premium


Lot 405
Tolkien, J. R. R.
ホビットの冒険 [The Hobbit]
TOKYO: IWANAMI SHOTEN, 1965
8vo, first Japanese translation by Teiji Seta, presentation copy inscribed by the author ("With best wishes | to Fr Hugh Maycock | and Pusey House | Dec. 14. 1966") on reverse of endpaper and additionally signed "J.R.R. Tolkien" on title-page, numerous illustrations by Ryuichi Terashima, pictorial end-papers in red and black by the author, original pictorial boards, original pictorial slipcase, head of spine slightly bumped, slipcase worn with soiling and loss
Estimate: £4,000 — 6,000
Sold for £8,125 including buyer's premium


Lot 406
Tolkien, J. R. R.
The Lord of the Rings
LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN, 1954-1955
8vo, 3 volumes, first edition, first impressions (volume three in first state of first impression), illustrations, maps including folding maps at end of each volume, original red cloth lettered in gilt on spine, dust-jackets, collector's black morocco-backed marbled folding box, some spotting and browning, ownership signature and book label to volume two, soiling to leaves 3-5 of gathering 9 in volume two, extremities slightly bumped, some cleaning and restoration to dust-jacket for volume one, some adhesive tape repairs to dust-jacket for volume two, some soiling to dust-jacket for volume three
Estimate: £4,000 — 6,000
Sold for £4,750 including buyer's premium


Lot 407
Tolkien, J. R. R.
The Lord of the Rings
BOSTON: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY, 1954-56
8vo, 3 volumes, first American editions, illustrations, maps including folding maps at end of each volume, original blue cloth lettered in gilt on upper covers and spines, dust-jackets, slightly bumped at extremities, dust-jackets slightly soiled, some loss to dust-jacket for volume one, some minor chips to dust-jacket for volume three, bookplate laid down to volume three
Estimate: £1,500 — 2,000
Sold for £1,875 including buyer's premium