# Festival Art & Books > Festival Art & Books is a specialist Tolkien rare book dealership run by Mark Faith in > Mid-Wales, United Kingdom (Machynlleth area). Est. 2001, trading as Festival Art and > Books since 2009. One of the world's oldest and largest specialist Tolkien rare-book > dealers — 5,000+ rare Tolkien books sold. First editions of The Hobbit (1937) and The > Lord of the Rings (1954–55), other Tolkien firsts, and original Tolkien-inspired art. > Sales on eBay, AbeBooks and direct email — no on-site checkout. ## Collecting Guides - [Collecting Tolkien Books for Fun and Investment](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collecting-tolkien-books-for-investment): How to collect and invest in Tolkien first editions: buy the earliest printing you can in the best possible condition, complete with its dust jacket, ideally from a specialist dealer. - [Collector's Guide Introduction](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collectors-guide-introduction): Mark Faith’s introduction to the Tolkien Collector’s Guide: twenty-five years as a specialist dealer, why condition and market knowledge matter, and how this free guide can save you time and help you make better collecting choices. - [The Hobbit First Edition (1937): Identification Points](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/hobbit-first-edition-1937-identification): How to identify a 1937 first-edition Hobbit from Allen & Unwin: copyright page, binding, dust jacket and why condition — not ISBNs or issue points — drives value. - [The Lord of the Rings First Edition (1954–55): Identification Points](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/lotr-first-edition-1954-55-identification): How to identify Allen & Unwin first-edition Lord of the Rings volumes (1954–55): printing history, impression charts, uniform wear, and why matched 1st/1st sets were never sold new. - [Technicalities](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collectors-guide-technicalities): Tolkien book technicalities explained: printing history from the 1950s to digital print-on-demand, states versus printing errors, Lord of the Rings impression charts, and what proofs and advance reading copies are worth to collectors. - [The Ballantine Tolkien Paperbacks and Barbara Remington's Cover Art](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/ballantine-tolkien-paperbacks-barbara-remington): Why the rushed 1965 Ballantine Tolkien paperbacks and Barbara Remington's cover art — which Tolkien disliked — helped propel his work to worldwide fame. - [The Three Eras of Tolkien Books](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collectors-guide-three-eras): The three eras of Tolkien book collecting — hippie paperbacks, pre-2000 deluxe editions, and the post-Jackson film era — plus what modern print runs, slipcased deluxes and shrink-wrapped copies mean for future value. - [What to Buy](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collectors-guide-what-to-buy): What Tolkien books to collect and why condition beats edition: specialist dealer expertise, Hobbit and Lord of the Rings priorities, signed books and bookplates, dust-jacket wear, restoration versus repair, and when art editions matter. - [Where to Buy](https://festivalartandbooks.com/guides/collectors-guide-where-to-buy): Where to buy rare Tolkien books: building a relationship with a specialist dealer, negotiating politely, why auctions are risky, how the Tolkien market behaves like a commodity market, and the bell-curve lesson that explains why fine copies keep rising in price. ## Collector's Guide (hub + chapters) - [The Tolkien Collector's Guide — hub](https://festivalartandbooks.com/collectors-guide): Mark Faith's complete free collector's guide, readable online chapter by chapter or downloadable as a PDF. ## Expert Q&A - [Used & Rare Tolkien Books: Q&A](https://festivalartandbooks.com/used-tolkien-books): Answer-first guide on first-edition values, dust jackets, restoration, states and what to collect. ## About & Services - [About Mark Faith](https://festivalartandbooks.com/about): Biography, credentials, 5,000+ rare Tolkien books sold, TV expert appearances. - [Sell & Source](https://festivalartandbooks.com/sell-and-source): We buy rare Tolkien books, offer consignment for high-value items, and confidentially source titles. - [Contact](https://festivalartandbooks.com/contact): Email Mark Faith for advice, valuations, buying or selling rare Tolkien books. ## Current Inventory - [Catalogue](https://festivalartandbooks.com/books): Browse rare Tolkien books and collectables currently for sale — titles, photos and prices. - [Rare Tolkien Books & Collectables](https://festivalartandbooks.com/rare-tolkien-books-collectables): The current collection of rare books, art and memorabilia. - [eBay Shop](https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/festivalartandbooks): Current listings for rare Tolkien books and art. - [AbeBooks Shop](https://www.abebooks.co.uk/festival-art-and-books-aberdyfi/51881760/sf): Current listings on AbeBooks. ## Resources - [Resources hub](https://festivalartandbooks.com/resources): Index of guides, journal, events, media, art and the photo gallery. - [Free Tolkien Collector E-book](https://festivalartandbooks.com/ebook): Download the 26-page PDF guide or read the full guide online. - [The Journal](https://festivalartandbooks.com/journal): Essays on Tolkien collecting, market commentary and notable finds. - [Journal Issue 1 (2009) PDF](https://festivalartandbooks.com/downloads/festival-art-and-books-journal-issue-1-2009.pdf): The first Festival Art and Books Journal — 8-page archive edition from 2009. ## Journal - [The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings?](https://festivalartandbooks.com/journal/the-hobbit-or-the-lord-of-the-rings): Which Tolkien masterpiece matters more to collectors — The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings? Mark Faith compares rarity, condition attrition, and what belongs at the heart of a serious collection. ## Media - [TV Appearances](https://festivalartandbooks.com/tv-appearances): Four Rooms, Pawn Stars UK and other television appearances. - [News & Media](https://festivalartandbooks.com/news-media): Press coverage, interviews and media mentions. - [Photo Gallery](https://festivalartandbooks.com/photo-gallery): Archive photographs of rare books, events and memorabilia. - [Festival in the Shire](https://festivalartandbooks.com/festival-in-the-shire): The Tolkien fan festival Mark Faith founded — history and photos. - [Events](https://festivalartandbooks.com/events): Past exhibitions, talks and Tolkien collecting events.