TOLKIEN, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel]. The Hobbit. Or There and Back Again. [London}: HarperCollins [2004]. 8vo, xxxiv 299pp. Green board spine stamped in gold with gray boards decoratively stamped in gold and red foil on front and back. Differing illustrated endpapers; 14 full-color illustrations and two-color fold-out map. A fine copy housed in publisher’s green board slipcase.

Deluxe edition, first printing, being a limited-run based on the 1995 reset edition (with definitive text) printed on fine paper and featuring brand new material. This was the first of the “Deluxe Editions” of Tolkien’s books that have been issued one title at a time for the past 16 years. The tale that started it all. Join Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and a dozen dwarves as they face-off against the dragon Smaug in journey there and back again. This wonderful deluxe edition is intended to be the definitive version of Tolkien’s beloved novel for children, featuring all of Tolkien’s color & black-and-white art for this title, including a previously unpublished illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien, a color, fold-out version of Thror’s map, a new 16-page introduction by Christopher Tolkien, and much more all housed in a handsome die-cut slipcase.