Senseless Vandalism
11 Nov, 2025
(edited)
2025-11-11 1:01:05 PM UTC
2025-11-11 1:01:05 PM UTC
Oh how I hope this isn’t what it purports to be….
“Offered in extremely limited quantity – genuine handwriting from legendary "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" author J. R. R. Tolkien, authenticated and encapsulated by (BAS) Beckett Authentication Services. Each handwritten word was carefully removed from a handwritten letter Tolkien wrote in September, 1968.
You will not receive a copy of the letter from Tolkien, the 4th image is shown purely to illustrate where the words came from. You will only receive the BAS encapsulated handwriting, "and", encapsulate #00018690835. The slab measures 3.25 inches by 5 inches….
Each encapsulated word was individually removed from a September 25, 1968 letter written by Tolkien from Oxford to Messrs Maple & Co. of Bournemouth concerning household furnishings and payments.
Genuine Tolkien autograph letters are exceptionally scarce and can fetch thousands of dollars. This encapsulated word offers a rare and affordable opportunity to own an authentic piece of Tolkien’s handwriting.
The cost of authenticating a single word of Tolkien’s handwriting is $100 on Beckett’s website.”*
*(Boy, have I ever missed a lucrative career opportunity …)
The letter pictured: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Maple & Co, Bournemouth • 25 September 1968 (#737)
“Offered in extremely limited quantity – genuine handwriting from legendary "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" author J. R. R. Tolkien, authenticated and encapsulated by (BAS) Beckett Authentication Services. Each handwritten word was carefully removed from a handwritten letter Tolkien wrote in September, 1968.
You will not receive a copy of the letter from Tolkien, the 4th image is shown purely to illustrate where the words came from. You will only receive the BAS encapsulated handwriting, "and", encapsulate #00018690835. The slab measures 3.25 inches by 5 inches….
Each encapsulated word was individually removed from a September 25, 1968 letter written by Tolkien from Oxford to Messrs Maple & Co. of Bournemouth concerning household furnishings and payments.
Genuine Tolkien autograph letters are exceptionally scarce and can fetch thousands of dollars. This encapsulated word offers a rare and affordable opportunity to own an authentic piece of Tolkien’s handwriting.
The cost of authenticating a single word of Tolkien’s handwriting is $100 on Beckett’s website.”*
*(Boy, have I ever missed a lucrative career opportunity …)
The letter pictured: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Maple & Co, Bournemouth • 25 September 1968 (#737)










9