Record price for Hobbit
2008-03-19 10:00
London - One of the first editions of
JRR Tolkien's classic The Hobbit was sold for a record
£60 000 at auction in London on Tuesday.
Auctioneers Bonhams said the book, signed by Tolkien and
dedicated to his close friend Elaine Griffiths, was bought by a
telephone bidder who wished to remain anonymous.
It said the price - twice the pre-sale estimate - was a
record for a signed copy of the novel, published in 1937 and
featuring a range of black and white sketches.
Tolkien first wrote The Hobbit for his children but after
reading the transcript, Griffiths thought it was so good she
handed it to publisher, George, Allen and Unwin.
The story, which follows the quest of Bilbo Baggins to
reclaim stolen treasures from the dragon Smaug, went on to sell
more than 100 million copies in nearly 50 languages.
Just 1 500 copies of the first edition were printed.
The Hobbit is expected to be turned into a Hollywood film.
It was the precursor to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
trilogy which went on to become a cinema blockbuster.
