The Hobbit or There and Back Again
Collector's Edition High Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy Classic Fantasy Adventure Children's Fantasy Epic Quest Coming of Age
Collectors and first-time visitors to Middle-earth alike prize this 2001 HarperCollins hardcover of The Hobbit or There and Back Again. At 400 crisp pages it is the full, unabridged text that introduced Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and the company of dwarves to the world, yet the 20 cm height and light 390 g weight make it an easy book to slip into a backpack or display upright on a shelf. Protected by its original dust-jacket and boasting a tight, unread binding, this copy has clearly been cared for—no dog-eared corners, no spine creases—so the maps and Tolkien’s own line drawings remain as sharp as the day they were printed.
What sets this particular copy apart is the handwritten inscription on the fly-leaf: a personal touch that turns an already beloved story into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Unlike a generic gift plate, the inked note links you directly to a previous reader’s journey through the Shire, over the Misty Mountains and to the Lonely Mountain, making this volume feel like part of the adventure itself. For parents, teachers or mentors hoping to spark a lifelong love of reading, that human connection can be the difference between “just another book” and the story a child remembers forever.
Because this edition predates the Peter Jackson films, it presents Tolkien’s text without movie-cover hype, letting readers imagine Middle-earth through the author’s words alone. The durable hardcover format and clear, modern typeface suit ages 9 to adult, so the same copy can be read aloud to children, devoured by teens, and revisited by adults who spot new details on every reread. With The Lord of the Rings trilogy waiting just beyond the last page, this Hobbit is the perfect gateway to the world’s most famous fantasy cycle—an heirloom-quality volume that will travel there and back again for generations.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now