The Hobbithunter

Welcome!

On this website you will see how, in the year 1975, my first copy of The Hobbit became the start of quite a collection of The Hobbit.

My first Hobbit was the 12th printing (1975) of the Dutch translation. It was a birthday present.

Recount on May 7, 2025: the total number of Hobbits is 943, from 98 countries and/or in 98 languages.

The Netherlands now has 40 different covers. Since 1960, when the first edition appeared, The Hobbit has had 119 Dutch editions. I have all 119 of those editions. That means I actually have more than 1,000 Hobbits, but … only different covers count, so the number remains 943 Hobbits.

Latest additions

Today (May 17) I added four English Hobbits because they are now over 50 years old. They have earned a place on the site. That makes 947 Hobbits.

For the addition of 26 new Hobbits: see NEWS. China (2024), China (2024 with information booklet), Italy (2024, 51 illustrations by Tolkien), Taiwan-Chinese (2024), Two Chinese Hobbits (2024), Thai Hobbit (1976, FIRST),Three Hobbits from China (2024, bought at TEMU),France (2022), The Welsh Hobbit (2024 FIRST), Norwegian Hobbit (2023 illustrated by Tove Jansson) and five new Hobbits from France, Romanish (2024 FIRST), Luxemburg (2nd printing 2024), Germany (2022), Mongolia (2022 – Tolkien cover), Russia (1992: Learn English with the Hobbit), Argentina (2002), Denmark (1992), Denmark (set of three Wenzel comics), France (Catlin 2013), UK (comic 2024), Arabic (Egypt 2024), Romania (2023), Brazil (1985), UK (2020), Lule Sámi (FIRST 2023).

How many translations are there of The Hobbit?

And, more importantly, what to count and what not to count. Personally, I only count the first translation in a country or part of a country (a regional language, that is). I don’t count revised translations.

A language can occur in several languages, such as Spanish in Spain, but also in Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, etc. The Hobbit only counts if the book is also printed / published in that country. So no imports from Portugal to Brazil, for example.

Therefore: My Hobbit collection consists of xxx Hobbits, from xx countries (or regions) and / or xx languages.

On this site you will find two albums:
1. Hobbits I have,
2. Hobbits I want (I am still looking for many a Hobbit),

If you have any questions or if you have books in which I might be interested, do not hesitate and contact me. And certainly do so if you have any information that will make this site more complete.

It is my wish to make this site THE Hobbit site. Will that be easy? Certainly not, but … why not try at least? And you can help! For exemple when you see a “?” instead of information.

And, there is more. As a collector of books by and on Tolkien, I have some 2.000 double copies of books by and on Tolkien.
I sell them worldwide and, because it is a hobby for me, at friendly prices in my webshop HOBBITHUNTER BOOKSHOP.

Click here and you will enter my shop. Be welcome there as a visitor.

Henk Brassien, aka The Hobbit Hunter