A first edition, second impression copy of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, donated to an Oxfam charity shop in Harborne, has sold at auction for £38,400. The money raised will support Oxfam's efforts to combat poverty and inequality worldwide.
Discovery Among Ordinary Donations
Julian Grist, manager of the Oxfam shop on Harborne High Street, said the book arrived 'with a pile of fairly ordinary books' and the donor had left before staff realised its value. 'By the time I'd realised what we had, the donor had already left. I would have loved the chance to tell them just how extraordinary their donation was,' he added.
Only 2,300 copies of this impression were printed, and it features four colour illustrations by Tolkien that first appeared in the second impression. The book was sent for specialist assessment before going under the hammer at Bonhams auction house.
Tolkien's Birmingham Connection
Tolkien lived in Birmingham for around 16 years, and it is believed his time in the city influenced characters and places in his famous Lord of the Rings books. The Hobbit, the precursor to that trilogy, tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his journey with dwarves to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug.
Charity Shop Excitement
'Whenever I spot a copy of The Hobbit, I always find myself thinking, 'Please let this be worth something',' said Grist. 'Tolkien is hugely collectable, and even something that looks quite ordinary can turn out to be incredibly valuable - sometimes an old dust jacket is all it takes.' He added that working at the charity shop is 'so exciting' because you never know what might be brought in. 'We can never get enough Tolkien. His books fly off our shelves. This one was something really special, and it's wonderful to know it will now make such a difference through Oxfam's work.'
Global Impact
Ian Falkingham, Oxfam's books expert, commented: 'The £38,000 raised from this single donation will help fund Oxfam's work with communities around the world.' The Oxfam shop at 171 High Street, Harborne, B17 9QE, continues to welcome donations.
