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JRRT vs Ronald

19 Jul, 2009
2009-7-19 3:12:53 AM UTC

Every time (literally) there is a discussion about a signed item, it seems to be the "classic" J.R.R. Tolkien signature. I have a calendar with the classic signature that he also signed Ronald. It would seem to be incredibly personal and rare. I would appreciate comments on this and would like to know if anyone else "out there" has any items with inscriptions other than JRRT. Thanks all.

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir
19 Jul, 2009
2009-7-19 5:49:35 AM UTC
Here is a Tolkien letter signed "Uncle Ronald".

251_4a62b3e5262d6.jpg 1519X1979 px
19 Jul, 2009
2009-7-19 5:57:02 AM UTC
Here is a good one signed "Ronald Tolkien".

251_4a62b5a607475.jpg 1045X1463 px
19 Jul, 2009
2009-7-19 6:08:29 AM UTC
And finally, here is a "Ronald" only one.

I hope these are helpful. If you do have an item signed "Ronald," you do have a rare item because Ronald was mainly used with family or close friends. See the Tolkien Family Album.

251_4a62b7b7526a4.jpg 396X376 px
19 Jul, 2009
2009-7-19 11:44:46 AM UTC
Fascinating to see those reproductions of the letters - thanks for that.

Tolkien signed a copy of the India paper LotR (1969) 'To Ding with love from Ronald', and then signed in full 'JRR Tolkien. Ding was the nickname of his cousin Dorothy Wood nee Mountain, daughter of Ronald's Aunt Grace.
23 Jul, 2009
2009-7-23 12:10:39 PM UTC
Thanks much to all who posted. I, too, found the various letters most interesting. Your comments have seemingly confirmed what I suspected: that my calendar is a rather rare, very personal, and precious item. I will treasure it. As I note on my website, he had to have signed it within a month or two of his passing. It is thus wonderful yet bittersweet.

Away from The Green Hill Country,

Parmastahir
23 Jul, 2009
2009-7-23 10:13:26 PM UTC
>Your comments have seemingly confirmed what I suspected: that my calendar is a rather rare, very personal, and precious item.<

Yes, it is all that. :) A thing of beauty; a joy forever.
12 Sep, 2009
2009-9-12 12:00:37 PM UTC
Looking back on this old(ish) thread, I see I forgot to mention that Tolkien would also sign with initials only;

To K.S. with greeting from J.R.R.T

and

M.E.G. from J.R.R.T

- both on copies of 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics'. The first is to the man who taught him Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, Kenneth Sisam. The second is to his pupil Elaine Griffiths, who was instrumental in the publication of TH.

These copies would have been signed in July 1937; that is, only a couple of months before the publication of TH.
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