What was the name of the publisher that first released The Hobbit in 1937?

George Allen & Unwin was the publisher that first released J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit in 1937.

The London firm published the book on 21 September 1937 after Tolkien submitted the manuscript and illustrations. Stanley Unwin’s young son, Rayner Unwin, famously read the manuscript and recommended publication, helping influence the firm’s decision.

George Allen & Unwin also became the original publisher of The Lord of the Rings. The company’s willingness to publish Tolkien’s work gave one of the twentieth century’s most influential fantasy writers a crucial early platform.

The name is sometimes shortened to Allen & Unwin in discussions of Tolkien’s books. That abbreviation refers to the same publishing firm, not a separate original publisher. The company later became part of larger publishing businesses, while Allen & Unwin continues as an independent publisher in Australia.