Hobbit first edition rediscovered in house clearance takes five-figure sum

The timed online sale at Auctioneum in Bath that ended on August 6 brought frantic bidding in the last few minutes. The price achieved is the most for a jacketless unsigned copy.

Unearthed on a routine call to a house clearance, the book – one of just 1500 printed – had lain forgotten in an old Globe-Wernicke lawyer’s cabinet surrounded by other, largely worthless, titles.

Caitlin Riley, Auctioneum’s book specialist, said: “Our MD, Evan McPherson, was at the address, sending me pictures as he was going. It wasn’t looking promising – just the typical reference, cooking and children’s books. I was getting quite disheartened but then Evan sent me a picture of The Hobbit.

“My first thought was this could be massive, but then I had to consider whether it was just a modern facsimile or much later printing. The hour-long wait for Evan to drive back was torture. But when he arrived, it was immediately evident what this was. I literally had a little cry.”

Riley added: “We estimated £10,000-12,000 and I was quietly hoping for £20,000, so this is stunning.”

Very few first impressions exist and they typically have excellent provenance. This book came from the family library of botanist Hubert Priestley, brother of Antarctic explorer and geologist Sir Raymond Edward Priestley.

“The Priestly family corresponded with CS Lewis and were also linked to Oxford University where Tolkien taught, so it’s highly likely the author was known to both men,” said Riley.

She confirmed the book will stay in the UK, bought by a collector rather than a book dealer.

First impressions of The Hobbit rarely come up for auction, and as such typically attract huge interest. As reported in ATG 2655, a signed copy given by Tolkien to one of his students became the most expensive copy ever in 2015, reaching £137,000 at Sotheby’s. This record stood until 2024, when a signed first edition from the collection of US attorney, William Strutz, sold for $300,000 at Heritage Auctions. A first edition, but with restored jacket, sold for $60,855, including premium at Bonhams (New York), in 2022.

Riley, whose previous book highlight had been a 1688 4^th print of John Milton's Paradise Lost annotated by Queen Anne's Master of Revels, Charles Killigrew, says this find is easily a career pinnacle. “As a book specialist it’s what you dream of,” she said. “It also proves that there are still rare books out there, just waiting to be discovered.”