A pile of mostly “unremarkable” books was recently donated to the Oxfam store in Birmingham, England. The staff sifted through the pile to discover a book that stood out. It is one of 2,300 copies of the first edition, second impression of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s “The Hobbit.” The copy has now been sold for £38,400 (around $51,000). The book was first published in 1937 and follows the adventures of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who joins the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves on an epic quest to reclaim their home. It also serves as a prequel to Tolkien’s magnum opus, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The manager of the Oxfam store told the BBC that he didn’t get an opportunity to let the donor know how special their collection was. “Whenever I spot a copy of The Hobbit, I always find myself thinking ‘please let this be worth something’,” the manager said, adding, “Tolkien is hugely collectible, and even something that looks quite ordinary can turn out to be incredibly valuable – sometimes an old dust jacket is all it takes.” Proceeds from the book’s sale will go toward Oxfam’s charitable work. “That’s part of what makes working in an Oxfam bookshop so exciting,” the manager continued. “We can never get enough Tolkien. His books fly off our shelves. This one was something really special, and it’s wonderful to know it will now make such a difference through Oxfam’s work.”
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Books Have Been Adapted Into Blockbuster Films
A feature-length animated adaptation of “The Hobbit” was released on NBC in 1977; it was followed by an adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings” directed by Ralph Bakshi and released in 1978. Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga reached a broader audience after director Peter Jackson made a trilogy of universally beloved movies based on “The Lord of the Rings” books. He returned to direct a new trilogy based on “The Hobbit,” but even though the movies made billions, they weren’t as well-liked as the Lord of the Rings films. In total, Jackson’s Middle-earth saga has grossed nearly $6 billion at the worldwide box office. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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December 14, 2012
- Runtime
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169 minutes

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