Can't afford to buy this, but I'll hopefully be able to go and have a look at it on Tuesday.
My copies also looked the same as these, sadly that was in 1963 not 2010.
-Trotter 3rd July
I decided myself that my doubts were wrong and I bought the item.
-Trotter 5th July
Incidentally Trotter, you selling your other copies?
BH
Incidentally Trotter, you selling your other copies? BH
A bit of confusion here, two items mentioned in this thread
The first was a lovely signed 1963 Deluxe LOTR which was to be sold at auction this week but it was unsold and anyway far out of my price range. I only have one battered unsigned set of these books so am not selling them.
The second was the C.T.Onions book with a letter from Tolkien in it (that was the item that I bought).
...errr, yes, I see my error. For some reason I thought the letter was with the initial item; should really follow your link next time Trotter. Not "way, way", but still way out of my price range. Very nice though. Do you think we can convince Andy (of ADC Books) to bring Hilary's copy of The Hobbit to Moreton exhibition?
BH
BH
Andy's already shown Hilary's Hobbit at Moreton, a couple of years ago. it's very nice - I'd like to see it again.
It looks lovely to me. Signed on all three title pages? Wow! Pity I can't afford it. I'd like to know its story - that is, who it was signed for, and how it comes to be for sale. garm
From this article it looks like it was Pauline Baynes personal copy of the book and some of the other items in the sale were also from Pauline Baynes collection.
http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com ... n.asp?catid=73&docid=3633
A copy of the Houghton Mifflin Hobbit, described as with Tolkien's signature in the bottom margin of the frontispiece plate, is to be offered by PBA Galleries of San Francisco on August 5th. The online catalogue page is here. The date is said to be '[1960]', but as the list of works includes The Adventures of Tom Bombadil it can't be earlier than 1963. The dust-jacket is labeled the fourteenth impression, which also points to 1963. The web images enlarge only so far, but enough to see that the 'J.R.R. Tolkien' signature is in blue ink and has certain questionable characteristics of script. The house estimate is $5,000-8,000.
Wayne & Christina
Wayne & Christina
30 Jul, 2010
(edited)
2010-7-30 4:25:11 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2010-7-30 4:52:50 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2010-7-30 4:53:10 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2010-8-5 4:15:07 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2010-7-30 4:53:10 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2010-8-5 4:15:07 AM UTC
2010-7-30 4:25:11 AM UTC
A copy of the Houghton Mifflin Hobbit, described as with Tolkien's signature in the bottom margin of the frontispiece plate, is to be offered by PBA Galleries of San Francisco on August 5th. The online catalogue page is here. The date is said to be '[1960]', but as the list of works includes The Adventures of Tom Bombadil it can't be earlier than 1963. The dust-jacket is labeled the fourteenth impression, which also points to 1963. The web images enlarge only so far, but enough to see that the 'J.R.R. Tolkien' signature is in blue ink and has certain questionable characteristics of script. The house estimate is $5,000-8,000. Wayne & Christina
It certainly is questionable especially when you see who it was bought from on eBay.
For sale is a first US edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. This copy dates to the 1950 and is the 14th printing. It has its original dust jack which apart from some minor chips is in pretty good shale. There is an ownership inscription on the inside flyleaf but other than that is devoid of internal markings. The picture at the beginning of the book is signed 'J.R.R. Tolkien' with fountain pen. This page appears to have been inserted and was perhaps sent to Tolkien to be signed. There is no provenance with this item and as I am not a dealer there is no certificate of authenticity issued. I am starting this item at a low reserve and will allow the bidding to dictate the value of the book. Postage within Canada by insured mail is $20.00 Shipping by insured trackable airmail $25.00 to the US.. Other destinations will be charged postage at cost. Payment due within 3 days of sale. Payment by Paypal only. All sales final. No returns.
Please see my other items listed for sale including a 1932 limited first edition of Brave New World signed by Aldous Huxley and other signed items.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200480907435
EDIT: PBA Galleries have withdrawn the item from the current auction.
In July 2010 (see the previous post in this thread), we reported on a copy of The Hobbit about to be offered at auction by PBA Galleries, San Francisco, the American edition, 14th impression (according to the jacket), with the colour frontispiece signed by Tolkien. We noted that the signature was questionable, and Trotter observed both that the copy had been offered earlier by a questionable source on eBay, and that it had been withdrawn from the PBA sale. Well, it's back, once again at PBA Galleries, in their sale of March 15th, lot 201, now with a house estimate of $4,000-6,000. The auction listing is here.
Wayne & Christina
Wayne & Christina