The Hobbit
Collector's Edition High Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy Adventure Fantasy Children's Fantasy Epic Quest Illustrated Fiction
The Folio Society’s 1997 illustrated hardcover of The Hobbit is the crown jewel for collectors who want Tolkien’s classic in a form that feels as timeless as the story itself. Bound in rich cloth and slip-cased, this edition showcases Michael Hague’s luminous color plates—more than 20 full-page paintings plus dozens of pencil drawings—that bring Bilbo, Smaug, and the landscapes of Middle-earth to life with museum-quality detail. Because Folio’s print runs are small and each re-issue is redesigned, the 1997 Hague-illustrated version is already scarce in “very good” condition, making copies from a smoke-free, careful owner especially desirable.
Beyond rarity, this volume is engineered for daily enjoyment: acid-free paper, sewn signatures, and a page size that lies flat for bedtime reading aloud to ages 9-12, yet feels substantial enough for adult collectors. Tolkien’s original text is unabridged, so readers experience every riddle, song, and dragon taunt exactly as he wrote them, while Hague’s artwork supplies visual cues that help younger readers follow the quest without dumbing down the language. The result is a book that bridges generations—perfect for parents who first met Bilbo in a paperback and now want to gift the same adventure in heirloom form.
For investors, Folio Society Tolkien has outperformed many modern first editions, with the 1997 Hobbit steadily appreciating as new films and streaming series expand the fan base. Keywords collectors search—”Folio Society Hobbit Michael Hague,” “illustrated hardcover Tolkien,” “1997 Hobbit collectible,” or “The Hobbit Folio slipcase”—all point to this edition, and clean, smoke-free copies command the highest premiums. Owning this copy means securing a piece of both literary and art history before prices climb even higher.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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