This day in geek history: September 21
1937
First edition cover of The Hobbit
Publishing date of The Hobbit: The first novel by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (as J.R.R.Tolkien), it wasn't written to be published but was a story for his children. It came to the attention of an employee of a publishing house who convinced Tolkien to submit it for publication. It received wide critical acclaim and led to his series The Lord of the Rings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit