The Hobbit (1965 Ballantine Books First Authorized Edition) is a landmark paperback release of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 fantasy classic, marking its official U.S. debut with Tolkien’s approval after unauthorized editions flooded the market. This edition features the iconic cover art by Barbara Remington—a psychedelic, slightly inaccurate depiction of Middle-earth that Tolkien himself disliked but fans embraced as emblematic of the 1960s counterculture’s love for the book.
The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit thrust into an epic quest with Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to reclaim Erebor from Smaug the dragon. Its blend of mythic adventure (“Riddles in the Dark” with Gollum) and whimsy cemented Tolkien’s reputation as the father of modern fantasy.
A collector’s gem, this edition’s cultural impact rivals its literary merit, bridging scholarly and pop audiences.
