Tolkieniano's new acquisitions
3 Oct, 2025
(edited)
2025-10-3 10:21:14 PM UTC
2025-10-3 10:21:14 PM UTC
I’ve seen other friends sharing their new acquisitions, and I must admit, I really like the idea. I see it as a way of showcasing our approach to research (which, in my case, goes hand in hand with study and publishing), but also as a form of inspiration for anyone looking to expand their own collection.
At present, my collection comprises around 8,000 items, including books, letters, ephemera, memorabilia, objects, and more. Every month I acquire new and often very special pieces. I’m opening this little window with a few recent arrivals from the past weeks, and I hope to find more time to share other books and objects from my collection soon.
Figures 1-2
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edited by J. R. R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon. Revised by Norman Davis, 2nd Edition 1967. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hardback in dustwrapper.
The book belonged to Angus McIntosh (1914–2005), a Scottish linguist and medievalist, and a former student of J. R. R. Tolkien at Oxford. It contains numerous annotations on almost every page. Inside, the sheet “With the Compliments of the Delegates of the Press. Clarendon Press, Oxford”.
Two reviews of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edited by J. R. R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon. Revised by Norman Davis, 2nd Edition 1967
1. ‘Morgain la Fée and the conclusion of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ by John Eadie. Offprint from Neophilologus, vol. 52. October 1968, pages 299-304.
Copy sent by the author to Angus McIntosh, with the author’s handwritten dedication “With best wishes, J. Eadie”
2. ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. By John MacQueen. Offprint from The Review of English Studies, Volume XX, Issue 77, 1969, pages 70–71
Copy sent by the author to Angus McIntosh, with the author’s handwritten dedication “With compliments”
Figure 3
Facsimile of “An Application for the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Oxford by J.R.R. Tolkien, Professor of the English Language in the University of Leeds”, by J.R.R. Tolkien. 25 June 1925, pages 16.
Figures 4-6
Pamela Chandler Archive: Work Diaries x 6: 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964 + Correspondence
Pamela Chandler Studios archive: 'Friday 27th of November 1959 11 am 10, Downing Street to photograph P.M.' (Harold McMillan) and more notably 17/8/61 'Prof Tolkien' in Oxford. Contents include her extensive portrait work; mainly children, dogs, the arts and minor aristocracy; also commercial commissions from fashion to asbestos, and the major oil companies.
Figure 7
Der Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Illustrated by Tove Jansson. Klett-Cotta Verlag, 2025.
Reprint of the first Swedish edition, 1962.
Figure 8
Cranford: The Cage at Cranford; The Moorland Cottage by Elizabeth C. Gaskell. London: Oxford University Press, 1963.
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Judith son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signe ‘J. N. R. Tolkien. Oxford. 2-11-74’.
Figure 9
Storm in Oxford. A Fantasy by E. Tangye Lean. London: Cobden-Sanderson, 1932.
Edward Tangye Lean (1911–1974) è stato uno scrittore e giornalista britannico, noto soprattutto per essere stato il fondatore originale del gruppo letterario The Inklings presso l'Università di Oxford. È stato ex allievo di C. S. Lewis.
Figures 10-11
Andrew Lang by Roger Lancelyn Green. Leicester: Edmund Ward, 1946.
Signed by the author. Green was a member of the Inklings and had Tolkien and David Nichol Smith as supervisors and examiners for his M.Litt thesis, entitled Andrew Lang as a Writer of Fairy Stories and Romances (1941–1944), which was later published in this book.
In his preface, R.L. Green thanks Tolkien: ‘And my gratitude to Professor D. Nichol Smith and Professor J. R. R. Tolkien for their unfailing guidance and encouragement leaves with me a debt that can never adequately be repaid’ (p. x).
Figure 12
Total Empire. The Roots and Progress of World Communism by Edmund A. Walsh. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1951 (2nd printing).
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Michael H. R. son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signed ‘Michael G. R. Tolkien. Oxford. September 1966”
Figure 13
Theocritus, Bion and Moschus by Andrew Lang. London: Macmillan, 1920.
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Michael H. R. son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signed ‘Michael G. R. Tolkien. Oxford. Dec. 3rd. 1966’.
Figure 14
A Mind Awake. An Anthology of C. S. Lewis by Clyde S. Kilby. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1969.
Signed by the author.
Figure 15-16
The Equatorie of the Planetis. A manuscript treatise ascribed to Chaucer by D. J. Price. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1955.
This book investigates the origins of The Equatorie of the Planetis, a fourteenth-century manuscript in the library of Peterhouse, Cambridge. Dr Price, a historian of science, examines the idea that it was composed and written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
To understand the connection with Tolkien, it is recommended to read two excellent works by Andoni Cossio on the subject: ‘Further notes on J. R. R. Tolkien’s photostats of The Equatorie of the Planetis(MS Peterhouse 75.I)’ (2022) and ‘The Missing Letters J. R. R. Tolkien Received from Derek J. Price and R. M. Wilson: Addendum to “Further Notes on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Photostats of The Equatorie of the Planetis(MS Peterhouse 75.I)”’ (2023)
Figure 17
An Edition of Þe Liflade ant te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene edited by S.R.T.O. d’Ardenne . Liége / Paris: Bibliothéque de la Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres de l’Université de Liége (Fasc. LXIV), Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres / Librarie E. Droz, 1936.
The book belonged to Roy F. Leslie, who signed it and wrote several notes in the text. Leslie taught for many years at Oxford, at Merton College, and was known for his methodological precision and in-depth work on language. Among his works The Battle of Maldon (1975)
Figure 18
The Katherine group: edited from MS. Bodley 34 by S.R.T.O. d’Ardenne. Liége / Paris: Bibliothéque de la Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres de l’Université de Liége (Fasc. CCXV), Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres / Librarie E. Droz, 1977.
Figures 19-23
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.China: Xinhua Wenxuan Produced by Guomai (果麦) and published by Jiangsu Fenghuang Wenyi (江苏凤凰文艺出版社) 2025.
Pop-up book.
I’ve also purchased a large number of Tolkien books in Chinese, and I’ll try to add them over the next few weeks, along with other recent acquisitions I’ve received.
At present, my collection comprises around 8,000 items, including books, letters, ephemera, memorabilia, objects, and more. Every month I acquire new and often very special pieces. I’m opening this little window with a few recent arrivals from the past weeks, and I hope to find more time to share other books and objects from my collection soon.
Figures 1-2
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edited by J. R. R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon. Revised by Norman Davis, 2nd Edition 1967. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hardback in dustwrapper.
The book belonged to Angus McIntosh (1914–2005), a Scottish linguist and medievalist, and a former student of J. R. R. Tolkien at Oxford. It contains numerous annotations on almost every page. Inside, the sheet “With the Compliments of the Delegates of the Press. Clarendon Press, Oxford”.
Two reviews of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Edited by J. R. R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon. Revised by Norman Davis, 2nd Edition 1967
1. ‘Morgain la Fée and the conclusion of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ by John Eadie. Offprint from Neophilologus, vol. 52. October 1968, pages 299-304.
Copy sent by the author to Angus McIntosh, with the author’s handwritten dedication “With best wishes, J. Eadie”
2. ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. By John MacQueen. Offprint from The Review of English Studies, Volume XX, Issue 77, 1969, pages 70–71
Copy sent by the author to Angus McIntosh, with the author’s handwritten dedication “With compliments”
Figure 3
Facsimile of “An Application for the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Oxford by J.R.R. Tolkien, Professor of the English Language in the University of Leeds”, by J.R.R. Tolkien. 25 June 1925, pages 16.
Figures 4-6
Pamela Chandler Archive: Work Diaries x 6: 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964 + Correspondence
Pamela Chandler Studios archive: 'Friday 27th of November 1959 11 am 10, Downing Street to photograph P.M.' (Harold McMillan) and more notably 17/8/61 'Prof Tolkien' in Oxford. Contents include her extensive portrait work; mainly children, dogs, the arts and minor aristocracy; also commercial commissions from fashion to asbestos, and the major oil companies.
Figure 7
Der Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Illustrated by Tove Jansson. Klett-Cotta Verlag, 2025.
Reprint of the first Swedish edition, 1962.
Figure 8
Cranford: The Cage at Cranford; The Moorland Cottage by Elizabeth C. Gaskell. London: Oxford University Press, 1963.
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Judith son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signe ‘J. N. R. Tolkien. Oxford. 2-11-74’.
Figure 9
Storm in Oxford. A Fantasy by E. Tangye Lean. London: Cobden-Sanderson, 1932.
Edward Tangye Lean (1911–1974) è stato uno scrittore e giornalista britannico, noto soprattutto per essere stato il fondatore originale del gruppo letterario The Inklings presso l'Università di Oxford. È stato ex allievo di C. S. Lewis.
Figures 10-11
Andrew Lang by Roger Lancelyn Green. Leicester: Edmund Ward, 1946.
Signed by the author. Green was a member of the Inklings and had Tolkien and David Nichol Smith as supervisors and examiners for his M.Litt thesis, entitled Andrew Lang as a Writer of Fairy Stories and Romances (1941–1944), which was later published in this book.
In his preface, R.L. Green thanks Tolkien: ‘And my gratitude to Professor D. Nichol Smith and Professor J. R. R. Tolkien for their unfailing guidance and encouragement leaves with me a debt that can never adequately be repaid’ (p. x).
Figure 12
Total Empire. The Roots and Progress of World Communism by Edmund A. Walsh. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1951 (2nd printing).
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Michael H. R. son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signed ‘Michael G. R. Tolkien. Oxford. September 1966”
Figure 13
Theocritus, Bion and Moschus by Andrew Lang. London: Macmillan, 1920.
A book personally owned and signed by Tolkien's grandson Michael H. R. son of Michael Hilary Reuel. Signed ‘Michael G. R. Tolkien. Oxford. Dec. 3rd. 1966’.
Figure 14
A Mind Awake. An Anthology of C. S. Lewis by Clyde S. Kilby. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1969.
Signed by the author.
Figure 15-16
The Equatorie of the Planetis. A manuscript treatise ascribed to Chaucer by D. J. Price. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1955.
This book investigates the origins of The Equatorie of the Planetis, a fourteenth-century manuscript in the library of Peterhouse, Cambridge. Dr Price, a historian of science, examines the idea that it was composed and written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
To understand the connection with Tolkien, it is recommended to read two excellent works by Andoni Cossio on the subject: ‘Further notes on J. R. R. Tolkien’s photostats of The Equatorie of the Planetis(MS Peterhouse 75.I)’ (2022) and ‘The Missing Letters J. R. R. Tolkien Received from Derek J. Price and R. M. Wilson: Addendum to “Further Notes on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Photostats of The Equatorie of the Planetis(MS Peterhouse 75.I)”’ (2023)
Figure 17
An Edition of Þe Liflade ant te Passiun of Seinte Iuliene edited by S.R.T.O. d’Ardenne . Liége / Paris: Bibliothéque de la Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres de l’Université de Liége (Fasc. LXIV), Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres / Librarie E. Droz, 1936.
The book belonged to Roy F. Leslie, who signed it and wrote several notes in the text. Leslie taught for many years at Oxford, at Merton College, and was known for his methodological precision and in-depth work on language. Among his works The Battle of Maldon (1975)
Figure 18
The Katherine group: edited from MS. Bodley 34 by S.R.T.O. d’Ardenne. Liége / Paris: Bibliothéque de la Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres de l’Université de Liége (Fasc. CCXV), Faculté de Philosphie et Lettres / Librarie E. Droz, 1977.
Figures 19-23
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Pop-up book.
I’ve also purchased a large number of Tolkien books in Chinese, and I’ll try to add them over the next few weeks, along with other recent acquisitions I’ve received.
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