I agree - but it's not easy to see at this resolution. Another thing is; the signature is not arbitrary - it seems to have been made by someone who has seen pictures of CT's sig; for example, the C in Christopher is larger than the rest of the lettering, and the p and h appear to be formed closely to the way that CT does. As does the capital T - though that isn't so easy for me to make out. It's things like this which make me wonder if a signature database might not be a good idea..

At present there's only 20 minutes to go (more or less) - and the bidding's up to £199.

I'm not sure about this one - what do others think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SIGNED-The-Sima ... 65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

hmm... looks like some folk out there think they can become 'instant' collectors just because they have money to spend. There's more to it than that.

Beren, are you saying there were only 500 copies of the Silm, not 1,000? I hadn't heard that. It would explain why this book is very hard to find.

I don't have a copy of the Silm; signed or unsigned; though I would very much like one. But I do have a copy of the Hobbit: one of the first 100, signed by CT. I also have one of the Methuen Silmarillions, bound in publishers' leather - and it has a bookplate which is inscribed: 'with gratitude, Christopher Tolkien'. nice!

This very month as is.

=Christies in Paris; a Silm. bound by Philip Smith

=Christies in London: Three Tolkien lots.

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lo ... e8-470a-ae97-4a53ad00313d