The Hobbit, Or There and Back Again (Special edition)

This special deluxe edition is based on the reset edition, first published by HarperCollins in 1995.  xxxiv, 300, [2]pp. Illustrated throughout with J R R Tolkien’s illustrations of which 14 are in full colour, one folding map.  Quarter bound in green cloth over pale purple paper-covered boards with red and gilt foil decoration, gilt-stamped lettering on the spine.  Deep green silk ribbon marker bound in.   Illustrated endpapers.  Volume includes 16pp introduction on the history of the Hobbit by Christopher Tolkien, the illustration “The Three Trolls Are Turned To Stone” appearing in the Hobbit for the first time; a fold-out version of Thror’s Map, with magic runes only visible when the map is held to the light; the Map of Wilderland appearing in blue and black, as the author intended, for the first time. 8vo.  Volume in neat, clean, bright and tight throughout.  Housed in a deep green bespoke slipcase, with red and gilt foil decoration and thumb hole revealing rune from upper panel.  The slipcase has a just a little shelf wear.  A promotional flyer from HarperCollins regarding this edition loosely laid in.