A rare first edition copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Hobbit* has sold at auction for about £38,000 after being donated to Oxfam and found among a batch of books at one of its charity shops, according to multiple reports. Oxfam staff say the book arrived as part of a donation that also included a collection of “otherwise unremarkable” titles. Ian Falkingham, Oxfam’s books expert, describes the discovery as notable given that the first edition was not identified through obvious prior prominence when it was received. The auction result reflects the value of early printings of classic works, particularly first editions associated with Tolkien’s publications. The reporting also indicates Oxfam’s role in handling book donations and assessing items for potential resale through auctions when they may be of interest to collectors. Overall, both outlets agree on the origin of the book within an Oxfam donation and the final hammer price of roughly £38,000.