Who illustrated the first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit?

J.R.R. Tolkien illustrated the first edition of The Hobbit himself.

Tolkien supplied the original book’s illustrations, maps and dust-jacket design. His artwork included depictions of places and objects from the story, while the maps helped establish the geography of the journey. The first edition was published in 1937 by George Allen & Unwin.

Tolkien was not trained primarily as a professional illustrator, but he had a strong interest in visual art and used drawings to develop his invented worlds. His images were not merely decorative: they supported the languages, scripts, landscapes and historical atmosphere behind the narrative.

Later editions and translations could use different artists, and modern film publicity has created another association between The Hobbit and professional illustrators. That does not change the answer for the original English edition: Tolkien himself created its illustrations and cover art.