520

J. R. R. Tolkien

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:30,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
J. R. R. Tolkien

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Auction Date:2014 Jun 18 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS, in his distinctive calligraphic hand, two pages, both sides, personal letterhead, no date, but circa July 1956. Letter to to Doris Sykes, discussing her illustrations inspired by The Lord of the Rings. In part: “I have done nothing further in the matter, since the publishers are not at present inclined to consider any edition illustrated or more deluxe and costly than the one just issued…I have shown your drawings to other ‘readers’ & the response has been good; though most agree that the best way of doing hobbits is to make them absolutely ordinary human beings (except for a neat goatee or buskin of hair), and not too childlike, round-eyed etc. I cannot remember what notes I mentioned (having no secretary, I have no copies, unless I type). But I think what you need is a copy of the book. I am sorry that I have nothing left (save my own copy!); but I will if you like send some copies that would do to work from.

I. A defective American copy pp. 321-336 omitted—but should be supplemented perhaps by copying the missing bit from a library copy. Alternatively a paper-bound uncorrected proof copy (minus the drawings of Mordor gate and Runes).

II. A copy (with one defective page) of the English edition—defect amended.

III. A perfect copy with two errors (appearing in all edns.) amended by hand of the American edition. These you could keep for the present, though for purely ‘historical’ sentimental and bibliographical reasons I should like to have them back eventually. The Americans you could keep, if you wished.

I should be v. pleased to see any further drawings you make; though I cannot encourage any great hopes of your labour being rewarded in a practical way in the near future.” Under his his signature, Tolkien adds a handwritten postscript, signed with his initials, which reads: “Except that—if and when I get any money from the book after the vast costs are defrayed: I have had none at all yet—I like some of the drawings so much that I should like to consider asking you to allow me to purchase some for myself, in the event of an illustrated edition being indefinitely postponed.” In fine condition.

Started as a single sentence, ‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit,’ written while correcting papers in the early 1930s, Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit introduced the world to Middle Earth. The publishers had originally planned to have just two maps printed on the endpapers, however, they were so charmed with the author’s illustrations that they included all twelve. The first American edition of The Hobbit would be even more enhanced with the addition of color plates, again designed by the author. Despite the enormous popularity of his book, Tolkien was still seeking to reap the financial rewards, as he notes in his postscript, “if and when I get any money from the book”—The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were published under a 'profit-sharing' arrangement in which he would not receive an advance or royalties until the books had broken even. A scarce and beautifully scripted handwritten offering, with a rare and direct reference to his most famous of Middle Earth residents.