Ending Aug 7, 2025 11:14 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
74
A rare wartime impression of Tolkien's The Hobbit
TOLKIEN, J.R.R.
The Hobbit of There and Back Again. London: George, Allen and Unwin, (1946). First edition, stated fourth impression. Publisher's pale green pictorial cloth, in the original jacket (marked fourth impression on the front flap), map endpapers. 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches (18.5 x 12 cm); 310, [2] pp. ads, color frontispiece, illustrations in text throughout. Losses to the head and toe of the spine of the jacket extending slightly into the panels, price-clipped, various other tears and minor losses, pencilled name at upper right of the front panel, but a respectable, unrestored example; the cloth beneath with fairly minimal wear, minor crease to the first few leaves, generally a clean copy.
Printed under wartime conditions, this impression saw heavy use and thus few copies survive in the jacket. The cloth of this example is brighter than is generally found. This is the last impression with the original text; subsequently, changes to the text were made by Tolkien to bring some aspects of the narrative closer to The Lord of the Rings, then nearing completion.
Sold for $2,880
Estimated at $4,000 - $6,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
TOLKIEN, J.R.R.
The Hobbit of There and Back Again. London: George, Allen and Unwin, (1946). First edition, stated fourth impression. Publisher's pale green pictorial cloth, in the original jacket (marked fourth impression on the front flap), map endpapers. 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches (18.5 x 12 cm); 310, [2] pp. ads, color frontispiece, illustrations in text throughout. Losses to the head and toe of the spine of the jacket extending slightly into the panels, price-clipped, various other tears and minor losses, pencilled name at upper right of the front panel, but a respectable, unrestored example; the cloth beneath with fairly minimal wear, minor crease to the first few leaves, generally a clean copy.
Printed under wartime conditions, this impression saw heavy use and thus few copies survive in the jacket. The cloth of this example is brighter than is generally found. This is the last impression with the original text; subsequently, changes to the text were made by Tolkien to bring some aspects of the narrative closer to The Lord of the Rings, then nearing completion.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, ending Aug 7, 2025
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on August 7, 2025 Saw Competitive Bidding Drive Strong Results
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Henry S. Tanner's 1823 "New American Atlas" Achieves $21,760
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on August 7, 2025 saw competitive bidding on a wide rang of property. This eclectic summer sale brought together such diverse offerings as Americana, literature, sporting books, manuscripts and early printing, travel and voyages, children's and illustrated books, fine bindings, autographs, maps and more. Also featured was an extensive offering of fascinating New York-related books, maps, photographs and ephemera from various collections and estates.
Highlighting the sale was an 1823 first edition of Henry S. Tanner’s “New American Atlas” that achieved $21,760. Widely regarded as the greatest American atlas of the 19th century, A New American Atlas Containing Maps of the Several States of the North American Union is among the earliest comprehensive mappings of the United States to be produced by an American publisher and printed in America. Remarkable for its size, uniform conception, cartographic accuracy and high-quality engraving, the atlas draws upon the most current source material of the time, supplemented by original surveys. Due to the high cost of production, it was initially sold by subscription, issued either in 5 parts or 3 parts. In 1823, the collected edition, as found here, was issued with 18 pages of explanatory text and the engraved title page with a vignette showing Columbus' first landing. This particular copy is complete in all parts and entirely original, untouched in its contemporary binding.
Topping the group of New York-related material in the sale was a curiosity from the city’s past -- a street sign for Bleecker Street and the Bowery that soared past its $250-350 estimate to realize a stunning $6,080. The painted metal "humpback" street sign dated to the first half of the 20th century.
Order of Sale
Lots 1–37 General Antiquarian
Lots 38–40 Science
Lots 41–77 Literature
Lots 78–93 Autographs
Lots 94–132 Fine Printing, Illustrated Books and Fine Arts
Lot 133–143 Fine Binding
Lot 144–148 Sporting
Lot 149–158 Travel
Lot 159–221 Americana
Lot 222–236 Maps and Atlases
Lots 237–274 Maps of New York and Environs
Lots 275–348 Books and Pamphlets on New York City
Lots 349–End Photographs of New York
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
