What publication place is listed for the first edition of The Hobbit?

The first edition of The Hobbit lists the United Kingdom as its publication place. George Allen & Unwin published Tolkien’s book in London on 21 September 1937, making the British edition the original English-language appearance of the novel.

The first edition was a modest-looking but carefully designed volume. Tolkien supplied the illustrations, maps, and dust-jacket artwork, while the initial print run contained 1,500 copies. Strong reviews helped it sell out by December, prompting a second printing later in 1937. The book’s success soon led to an American edition from Houghton Mifflin in 1938.

Readers sometimes confuse the first UK edition with the first American edition because both are early editions and both are collectible. The United States edition followed the British publication and used different physical features, including a larger format and four color plates. Thus, “United Kingdom” refers to the original first-edition publication place, not every early edition of the book.