There is also a signed Tolkien paperback by the same seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Hobbit-Signed ... tible?hash=item2ea94b50b8

What do you guys think of this one? The ink is blue...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Signed-Letter-by- ... tible?hash=item2ea94b4cdd

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Again, regardless of what anyone might say about the authenticity of the signature or content, this letter just seems too similar to the Higgins letters. All of these letters have similar paper, similar bold black signatures, and all contain rather similar signs of aging.

If the Hooper of this letter is, in fact, Walter Hooper, I imagine that he is probably the best authority on this letter, considering he is still alive. If it was never sent to him, as I imagine that is going to be the story, the provenance of the letter is certainly questionable.

It also seems noteworthy that although the Higgins letters look exactly like this Hooper one, at least one of the Higgins letters was not composed around the same time. This letter was purportedly written in 1966 and one of the Higgins letters mentions Edith's death, so at the earliest, it was written in 1971. This doesn't necessarily mean the letters aren't authentic, but it seems rather strange given the similar look of the letters.

Well, those are my initial thoughts.

Also, we have seen other reputable auction houses selling "supposed" Tolkien letters before. I think we all remember the infamous "moon-lather" letter that was being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions: http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/detail/664/246.0

If the collectors on this site wouldn't have identified that as a forgery, it would have almost certainly sold at auction.

Collector, I still have yet to see any evidence put forth about this Higgins fellow.

To my knowledge, Wayne and Christina remain the best authorities on Tolkien and his life. As they observe, "We too have significant doubts about the 'Higgins' letters. We've seen no evidence of Higgins, as Tolkien's doctor, friend, or otherwise, outside of the letters offered on eBay."

Collector, if you have further evidence that could prove otherwise, I'd be more than interested in what you might have to say.