I don't hold out much hope that this is the real deal...

Signed Silmarillion on eBay

Jeremy

There are two signed Silmarillion's on Ebay at the moment, the other one is clearly genuine and signed by Christopher Tolkien and Alan Lee, the signature is completely different so I am very suspicious about this one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... em=220049672441&rd=1&rd=1

Personally I think this one may well be genuine. It is different from the 1998 Silmarillion, but that signature is totally different from the ones used by Christopher in the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

It is a little less ornate than the examples I have linked to, but I think it maybe an autograph rather than a presentation signature if you know what I mean.

I can assure you that the Silmarillion on Ebay (below) is genuine, signed by both C.Tolkien and Ted Nasmith. I know this because I got the book directly from the publishing company HarperCollins while working there a few years ago.

I worked for the entertainment section which was responsible for all official publishing of Tolkien books and was also responsible for the official website: www.tolkien.co.uk (which sadly has become out of date since leaving! )

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220049672441&rd=1&rd=1

For comparison of signature see another numbered version of the book on the Tolkien Library site:

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/reviews/silmarillion.htm

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/images/000091a2.jpg

Ebay listing:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220049672441&rd=1&rd=1