The Hobbit Italian Bound

5b.  J R R Tolkien.    Reprint with special binding made exclusively for Moon's Rare Books

Quote

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."

Notes

The Hobbit, written by J.R.R. Tolkien and first published in 1937, is a fantasy novel that follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit who is swept into an epic quest. Accompanied by a group of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf, Bilbo sets out to help reclaim the dwarves’ homeland and treasure from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, he encounters trolls, goblins, elves, giant spiders, and Gollum—who possesses a mysterious magic ring. The story, both whimsical and adventurous, introduces readers to Middle-earth, the richly detailed fantasy world that would later be expanded in The Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien’s writing process for The Hobbit was gradual and largely unplanned. He began the story in the early 1930s, allegedly scribbling the opening line—“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”—on a blank exam paper he was grading. Initially conceived as a children’s story, The Hobbit was deeply influenced by Tolkien’s background in philology (the study of languages), mythology, and his love for Norse and Anglo-Saxon literature. He often wrote in bursts, revising heavily and drawing from a vast body of his own invented languages and histories. The novel’s tone reflects his academic mind and storytelling instincts—light and humorous on the surface, yet layered with ancient echoes and moral complexity. Encouraged by the book’s unexpected success, Tolkien was later urged to write a sequel, which eventually became the much darker and more expansive The Lord of the Rings.

Description

Highly embossed including covers, spine, interior of covers, and leather ribbon bookmark, this edition is specially designed and bound for Moon's Rare Books in Italy. Unique red marbled endpapers with hand done green marbling on edges of the book. Inlaid circular illustration on the upper board. Five raised bands and gilt lettering on the spine. Hand made map on interior as well.