News just in -

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/4453/

Sorry for the double post - if it were me, I'd take the book along to Sotheby's for evaluation.

Regarding the postcard from behind the fireplace - it wasn't from Tolkien; it was apparently addressed to his wife, (though whether even that is true seemed far from clear, as far as I can recall.)

I hadn't heard that it had actually sold. I wonder how much it went for?

Thanks, Wellinghall. Oddly, I can find nothing about Bayntuns on the net. It's good to know they're still going.

Those pictures look distorted. Here's a better one -

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookD ... rtby%3D2%26x%3D31%26y%3D8

(sorry - didn't realize the address was so long. It might be betterto go to abe and search for Tolkien and Bayntun)

The signature looks ok to me - if it were not, it certainly isn't one of the latest batch of bad forgeries. I've seen this set beforeI think; years ago. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if Bayntuns are still going. They are(or were) a firm of high repute. Their work is first class.