J.R.R. Tolkien
225 copies for sale · $30–$135,000 · 43 first editions · 8 signed
Notable copies for sale
Tree and Leaf (first edition, signed) — Burnside Rare Books$35,000
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (first edition, 1937) — Biblio$12,500
In an Unpublished Letter, JRR Tolkien Writes on His Invention and Public Proliferation of (signed, 1964) — Biblio$56,000
The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King (first edition, signed) — Burnside Rare Books$135,000
The Lord of the Rings. Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring; Part Two: The Two Towers; Par (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$32,500
The Return of the King First Edition (first edition) — Sotheby's$8,000
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King (first edition, 2002) — Biblio$250
J.R.R. Tolkien ‘The Peoples of Middle-Earth’ Vol 12 First edition 1996 Hardcover (first edition, 1996) — eBay$110
FARMER GILES OF HAM (first edition, 1949) — Biblio$250
The Hobbit (1962) - Portugal First Edition (first edition, 1962) — Biblio$1,102
THE RETURN OF THE KING (first edition, 1956) — Biblio$1,100
THE ROAD GOES EVER ON; A Song Cycle (first edition) — Rare Book Cellar$621
What these are worth
Lord of the Rings Deluxe - Special Edition Illustrated by the Author (2022)3 copies from 3 sellers
Each page gathers every copy on the market, what similar copies have fetched, and the spread between them.
Works on the market
THE SILMARILLION10 copies · £70–£596
THE LORD OF THE RINGS - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO TOWERS, THE RETURN OF THE KING9 copies · $544–$64,788
THE LORD OF THE RINGS8 copies · £83–£60,000
THE HOBBIT OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN8 copies · £73–£6,887
THE HOBBIT6 copies · £47–£1,650
The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King3 copies · £9,750–£135,000
THE TWO TOWERS3 copies · $73–$1,000
THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND GUDRUN; Easton Press3 copies · $398
THE NATURE OF MIDDLE-EARTH; Easton Press3 copies · $398
THE TWO TOWERS; Easton Press3 copies · $273
THE RETURN OF THE KING3 copies · $53–$73
THE HOBBIT, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO TOWERS, THE RETURN OF THE KING2 copies · $226–$1,398
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO TOWERS, THE RETURN OF THE KING2 copies · $246–$813
THE END OF THE THIRD AGE; Easton Press2 copies · $398
THE RETURN OF THE SHADOW; Easton Press2 copies · $398
THE TREASON OF ISENGARD; Easton Press2 copies · $398
UNFINISHED TALES OF NUMENOR AND MIDDLE-EARTH; Easton Press2 copies · $398
THE WAR OF THE RING; Easton Press2 copies · $398
UNFINISHED TALES OF NUMENOR AND MIDDLE-EARTH2 copies · $263–$348
Market context
200 copies of J.R.R. Tolkien's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $70 (last listed prices at time of sale or removal, not confirmed sale prices).
Recent auction results (hammer prices, premiums not included):
The Fellowship of the Ring, seventh impression, 1957; and others by the same, largely firs (forum, 2026-09-03)£950
The Lord of the Rings, 3 vols, 2nd edition, 1966 (dominic winter, 2026-09-01)£320
The Hobbit or There and Back Again, second edition, third impression (seventh overall), 19 (forum, 2026-07-23)£440
The Lord of the Rings, 3 vol., first editions, fifth, fourth and second impressions, 1956- (forum, 2026-07-23)£420
The Silmarillion, first edition, 1977; and 2 other first editions by the same (3) (forum, 2026-07-02)£150
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, first edition, 1962; and 2 other first editions by the sam (forum, 2026-07-02)£300
Listings aggregated from rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide; refreshed continually. Prices are seller asking prices unless marked as auction results.