The Hobbit — First UK Edition, Fourth Impression (1946), in Original Dust Jacket

First UK edition, fourth impression

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. London, George Allen & Unwin, 1946, published on 18 November 1947. The fourth and final impression of the first UK edition retains the original version of “Riddles in the Dark”, before Tolkien revised Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum for the 1951 second edition.

Unwin Brothers printed 4,000 copies in July 1946, with dust jackets printed separately by J. Howell. The publisher’s records show that Key & Whiting charged for binding 4,032 copies in December 1947. The reason for the delay between printing and binding is unknown. The fourth impression follows the third in its illustration programme, with a colour frontispiece and eight black-and-white illustrations.

Binding and illustrations

Publisher’s green cloth with Tolkien’s mountain and dragon designs stamped in dark blue. The map endpapers show Thrór’s Map at the front and Wilderland at the rear, printed in black and red. Tolkien’s colour frontispiece, The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the-Water, faces the title page. The photographs also show several of his black-and-white drawings, including The Trolls, Beorn’s Hall and The Elvenking’s Gate.

Dust jacket and condition

In the original illustrated dust jacket, with “Fourth Impression” printed on the price-clipped front flap. The blue and green of the panels remain strong, with toning to the pale areas of the spine. There are short tears and rubbing along the edges and folds, with losses at the head and foot of the spine exposing the cloth. Old adhesive tape reinforces several areas on the reverse and has left visible staining. A previous owner’s name is written at the top of the front flap.

The green cloth remains bright, with light rubbing. Foxing is most pronounced on the endpapers and opening leaves, including the half-title and title page, with scattered spotting elsewhere. A dated 1951 ownership inscription and a Grahamstown bookseller’s ticket are visible. The condition notes are based on the photographs. Full collation is subject to physical inspection.

Bibliographical reference: Wayne G. Hammond and Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, A3a (note).

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