The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, 1957 9th Impression with Dustjacket and Custom Leather Slipcase by J.R.R. Tolkien - 1957

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1957. 2nd Edition. Original Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine. J.R.R. Tolkien. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien. A beautiful copy of an extremely scarce early Hobbit. The 1957 printing, of the 2nd Edition (1951), or the 9th printing overall (1937). This copy is a stated 9th impression from the dustjacket, published by Houghton Mifflin from sheets imported from Great Britain. Stated 9th impression on front flap, not priced or clipped, noted as printed in Great Britain on the title verso. The 9th is the last impression with only 1000 sheets imported from Allen & Unwin, also lacking the printing history on title verso to help them circumvent the import restrictions and US copyright laws. Later impression had 2500 or more copies imported, making the later impressions much easier to find today. This book features the original dustjacket with the Mountains and Dragon design by the author. The dustjacket shows some light tanning to the spine but very little tanning or soiling to the white areas of the dustjacket. The boards show no soiling or marking, clean and bright with a little rubbing or shelfwear, mainly to the tips and the spine edges. The text block is clean and bright, without foxing or any markings. No previous owners names or any writing noted. No bumped corners and the most minor or rubbing or shelfwear to the edges. The dustjacket, is in Near Fine condition, showing on the most minor of rubbing, with a few very small flecks of color loss, to the top and bottom of the spine and flap folds. The panels are in wonderful condition, no tears, foxing or any soiling to speak of. A small amount of rubbing and minor loss to the tips of the flap fold areas. A beautiful clean copy, one of the copies with the teal boards stamped in blue, that are very hard to find. Contains the full color frontispiece "The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water", as well as the original line drawings by Tolkien. The maps are in excellent condition, with the red and black ink still showing clear and bright against the endpapers, a very small bit of browning to the gutters. Both maps have no foxing, very clean. A highly collectable copy, scarce in this lovely Near Fine/Near Fine condition. Digital photo's available, inquire if interested. Other Tolkien books available, include both the UK and US editions, original cloth bindings, custom fine bindings, and Signed/Numbered/Limited Editions. Near Fine / Near Fine.