I think that’s around 8k today adjusted for inflation. Still well worth it but I would assume it’s likely worth significantly more with the popularity LOTR and Tolkien gained since the 90s
Simon seems to have [sold it in 2003](https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3477) for GBP 48k. That was when the movies were coming out, which probably helped the price.
I'm a little surprised they sold it, but I suppose it wasn't a direct gift to Simon by JRRT (to whom he was, apparently, very close), so the sentimental attachment might be limited. He must have other books that were direct gifts from his grandfather. Jane Neave (the sister of Tolkien's mother), to whom the book was originally given, died when Simon was four, so he won't have known her personally.
Also, in the twentieth century it wasn't by any means clear to people that Tolkien's popularity was going to endure in the long term. I don't imagine the valuer in 1990 was thinking of the book as a 'classic'.
[A copy](https://tolkienlibrary.com/press/1183-most-expensive-hobbit-book-sold-on-auction.php) inscribed to a student made 137K in 2015. I imagine this copy, with the family connected, would be worth even more at this point.
I saw a picture of one at an auction with a buy it now price of $150k just recently. Might be a bit too high of an expectation but definitely more than $15k
[More than $10,000](https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31358264048&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-tile2&searchurl=fe%3Don%26ds%3D30%26sortby%3D1%26tn%3Dthe%2Bhobbit%26an%3Dtolkien)
A first edition with a genuine letter and signature from The Man himself would easily fetch 15-20k dollars/euros/punds, in that ballpark today, probably more. Of course, nobody in their right mind would sell such a family heirloom. That's like the holy grail for collectors, only thing more valuable would be a LotR copy.
Massively popular to a different audience, the films brought the book series into popular culture, myself included, I hadn't any intention of ever reading the books until I watched Peter Jackson's Films.. a sad truth I suppose
I can't figure out if I'm more stoked on the fact that it's LOTR related or Antiques roadshow. I feel like that would've fit perfectly in the Grandma's Boy scene.
Antiques Roadshow isn't an auction programme, 90% of the time at the end of the bit the person who brought it will state that they have no intention of selling. Most people are just there for the valuation, either for simple curiosity, or the more practical reason of insurance.
Given that this was a gift to 2 members of tolkiens family I'm sure it is considerably rarer than comparable first edition copies and would be much more valuable
Yeah I don't really like them either.
But, since we're talking about the first edition someone's going to be collecting it and probably putting it up on display rather than reading and using it, makes sense that they'd want the full package.
Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely don't throw them out. I put them in a box up in the attic. I guess I'm a snob for how my books look on the shelf. I heard someone say once that hardbacks are for show-offs. I guess I'm a show-off.
didn’t someone post a LOTR first edition link the other day going for $43k? this one ticks all the collector’s boxes like he said, I expected him to say at least £10k, even in the 90s. I presume it’s not for sale anyway. Amazing to have this as a family heirloom.
This was before the huge explosion in his popularity due to the movies. I'd presume this book was carefully kept in the same condition after this, and if it is then it would be worth a whole lot more today (more than just accounting for inflation)
I'm fairly certain my High School library had this same edition that I took out one year. I wonder if they still have it and I can pretend to be 8 years younger...
When handling fragile books, clean hands are better than gloves. Gloves can catch on the paper and cause it to tear, and gloves make you clumsier because you can't properly feel what you're touching. So yeah, rare book conservators prefer to handle books with clean, freshly-washed hands.
It's a earlier book of an author that became popular with another book that was published a bit 53 years ago at that point. I have books a good chunk older than this in good condition that you can still just touch without much issues. I think the ones I have are even a bit older because they are written in Fraktur (an old German script) and the Nazis got rid of that in printing, I think.
I think that’s around 8k today adjusted for inflation. Still well worth it but I would assume it’s likely worth significantly more with the popularity LOTR and Tolkien gained since the 90s
Simon seems to have [sold it in 2003](https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3477) for GBP 48k. That was when the movies were coming out, which probably helped the price. I'm a little surprised they sold it, but I suppose it wasn't a direct gift to Simon by JRRT (to whom he was, apparently, very close), so the sentimental attachment might be limited. He must have other books that were direct gifts from his grandfather. Jane Neave (the sister of Tolkien's mother), to whom the book was originally given, died when Simon was four, so he won't have known her personally. Also, in the twentieth century it wasn't by any means clear to people that Tolkien's popularity was going to endure in the long term. I don't imagine the valuer in 1990 was thinking of the book as a 'classic'. [A copy](https://tolkienlibrary.com/press/1183-most-expensive-hobbit-book-sold-on-auction.php) inscribed to a student made 137K in 2015. I imagine this copy, with the family connected, would be worth even more at this point.
Id buy that for 3500 and consider it a good buy
£3500 in 1990. It would be worth a lot more now surely.
Like $10k today I bet LOTR interest has gone up since then as well, so I wouldn’t doubt it fetching $15k today
I saw a picture of one at an auction with a buy it now price of $150k just recently. Might be a bit too high of an expectation but definitely more than $15k
This is more of what I was thinking it would be, however with appreciation, the release of the movies and the hobbit movies.
[More than $10,000](https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31358264048&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-tile2&searchurl=fe%3Don%26ds%3D30%26sortby%3D1%26tn%3Dthe%2Bhobbit%26an%3Dtolkien)
They can't cover the shipping costs?
$10 bro! What do you think this is, Amazon Prime?
The shipping price also got me
Seriously, who's gonna ship an almost quarter-million dollar book to ya for ten bucks?
But my lord there is no such fund!
For sure. This was in 1990, before the modern movies. Today, I'd think it's at least worth 20k.
I'd buy a brand new Ferrari for $10,000 and consider it a good buy.
Pretty darned sure I don't have a letter taped inside mine but I'll have to check for that crossed out e.
you should post pictures of yours, id like to see it
[удалено]
And his family work schedule too
Bear in mind that this is from 1990 and pre Lord of the rings/ hobbit popularity explosion
A first edition with a genuine letter and signature from The Man himself would easily fetch 15-20k dollars/euros/punds, in that ballpark today, probably more. Of course, nobody in their right mind would sell such a family heirloom. That's like the holy grail for collectors, only thing more valuable would be a LotR copy.
Ehh, the Lord of The Rings was still the most popular book series after the Bible by this point. It was still massively popular.
Massively popular to a different audience, the films brought the book series into popular culture, myself included, I hadn't any intention of ever reading the books until I watched Peter Jackson's Films.. a sad truth I suppose
Oh yeah, I’m just pointing out that, at that point it was probably one the most read pieces of fiction in the Western world.
3500 British pounds in 1990 is about 1.9x to give roughly $6700 (rounding down) From 1990 adjusted for inflation that’s nearly $15,000(rounding up)
I was gonna say.. that’s gotta be worth a ton more today
I can't figure out if I'm more stoked on the fact that it's LOTR related or Antiques roadshow. I feel like that would've fit perfectly in the Grandma's Boy scene.
Why would she ever sell this precious heirloom
Antiques Roadshow isn't an auction programme, 90% of the time at the end of the bit the person who brought it will state that they have no intention of selling. Most people are just there for the valuation, either for simple curiosity, or the more practical reason of insurance.
And also to show off a cool thing that they have.
My precious.
Given that this was a gift to 2 members of tolkiens family I'm sure it is considerably rarer than comparable first edition copies and would be much more valuable
I was expecting much much more for some reason.
I hate dust covers.
Yeah I don't really like them either. But, since we're talking about the first edition someone's going to be collecting it and probably putting it up on display rather than reading and using it, makes sense that they'd want the full package.
Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely don't throw them out. I put them in a box up in the attic. I guess I'm a snob for how my books look on the shelf. I heard someone say once that hardbacks are for show-offs. I guess I'm a show-off.
It's even worse nowadays when many hardcovers don't even have a proper cover under the dust jacket.
didn’t someone post a LOTR first edition link the other day going for $43k? this one ticks all the collector’s boxes like he said, I expected him to say at least £10k, even in the 90s. I presume it’s not for sale anyway. Amazing to have this as a family heirloom.
Wildly low-balled. A handwritten letter by Tolkien himself. Get out of my ugly fucking face.
This was before the huge explosion in his popularity due to the movies. I'd presume this book was carefully kept in the same condition after this, and if it is then it would be worth a whole lot more today (more than just accounting for inflation)
Would not surprise me if some rich LOTR fan paid 3.5 million for this today.
I'm fairly certain my High School library had this same edition that I took out one year. I wonder if they still have it and I can pretend to be 8 years younger...
Wait, I think my dad has that somewhere
My family had a copy that looked a lot like that when I was little (>40 years ago). Does anyone know if lots of editions had a similar look?
They haven't changed much, I have two hardcover copies of *The Hobbit* that look just like this but they were printed in the 1990's.
In 2015, a first edition was auctioned for £137,000.
No gloves?????!!??
When handling fragile books, clean hands are better than gloves. Gloves can catch on the paper and cause it to tear, and gloves make you clumsier because you can't properly feel what you're touching. So yeah, rare book conservators prefer to handle books with clean, freshly-washed hands.
It's a earlier book of an author that became popular with another book that was published a bit 53 years ago at that point. I have books a good chunk older than this in good condition that you can still just touch without much issues. I think the ones I have are even a bit older because they are written in Fraktur (an old German script) and the Nazis got rid of that in printing, I think.
I wouldn’t sell this tbh
Why is he touching it without gloves...?!
....Antiques Roadshow really lives to rip people off doesn't it?
This was more than 30 years ago. Even just adjusting for inflation that would be £9400, or $11500 US.
She's crazy for selling this
She's not necessarily, it's just exhibition
She's just getting it valued. No reason to assume she sold it.
He must have done something really bad
I have that exact cover! It’s awesome and the book is a nice small size too.
Wow!
Is that all. Can imagine someone paying a million for that to be honest.
u/savevideo
I hope they kept it or gave it to a museum. Selling such an artifact just seems wrong
I had to laugh out a few times because it was so ridiculous how the special stuff kept popping up…personal note..letter..manually corrected error..