Halbarad wrote:

Thank you all for the feedback, @mods, feel free to delete these related posts since it seems I was mistaken 👍

We will keep the post and no real problem with your post, except it is very difficult to tell with certainty if a signature is correct, and I think it is helpful to members to see some of the steps you can take, when making a decision. Ultimately, we do not know 100% one way or the other for most signatures.

I encourage people to continue questioning signatures as there are a lot of fakes out there.

Thank you all for the feedback, @mods, feel free to delete these related posts since it seems I was mistaken 👍

No,not at all Halbarad. My comments was just my opinion on first looking at it and I am not a professional handwriting expert and 100% judgement is impossible. It was interesting what you had to say and please continue expressing your opinion and your gut feel on any matter. You may well be correct,now or in the future.

Halbarad wrote:

Thank you all for the feedback, @mods, feel free to delete these related posts since it seems I was mistaken 👍

Tbh, it is all a bit of a guessing game. I had previously noted this one, and I really didn't like the "J". The Swann signature looked basically fine relative to the couple of examples I had images of, and the other signature -- no information to go on.

I personally wouldn't buy this, but I also wouldn't say it is fake. Do I think it is legitimate? Honestly, no idea.

The only ironclad way is to have proper provenance, given the fact that its an eBay listing without it, this groups discussions/forensic analysis (such as what has transpired here) is truly valuable information and context for anyone looking to purchase something like this.

Personally, I would also be curiously watching what it ends up going for but not going to be bidding 🤷‍♂️

The late Stu wrote:

Halbarad wrote:

Thank you all for the feedback, @mods, feel free to delete these related posts since it seems I was mistaken 👍

Tbh, it is all a bit of a guessing game. I had previously noted this one, and I really didn't like the "J". The Swann signature looked basically fine relative to the couple of examples I had images of, and the other signature -- no information to go on.

I personally wouldn't buy this, but I also wouldn't say it is fake. Do I think it is legitimate? Honestly, no idea.

Halbarad wrote:

One of the worst fraudulent signatures I've seen recently:

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1968 1ST EDITION THE ROAD GOES EVER ON SIGNED BY J. R. R. TOLKIEN, DONALD SWANN

326968992539

Seller: harryshoes

(6851)

Ended Feb 3, 2026

This item ended more than 90 days ago

Sold for over £7,800

Another shameful listing from the ever-predatory Rare Book Cellar

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J. R. R. Tolkien THE HOBBIT Or There and Back Again 3rd Edition 16th Printing

136805585707

Seller: rare-book-cellar

(14663)

Buy-It-Now:

$7,779.50

Sigh.

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Signed J.R.R Tolkien Book Page - SEE DESCRIPTION - Lord Of The Rings

257350523555

Seller: dazza_5

(688)

Buy-It-Now:

£10.00

The late Stu wrote:

Sigh.

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Signed J.R.R Tolkien Book Page - SEE DESCRIPTION - Lord Of The Rings

257350523555

Seller: dazza_5

(688)

Buy-It-Now:

£10.00

This may be the worst one I've ever seen...

And another from the same seller, who is openly faking Tolkien signatures. I have reported the seller. If others could to the same, would be great.

Really shows though, you don't want to buy cut signatures. Practice enough, and these become plausible fakes.

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Signed J.R.R Tolkien Brown Card - SEE DESCRIPTION - 4x2 inch

257355694440

Seller: dazza_5

(690)

Buy-It-Now:

£8.00

The late Stu wrote:

And another from the same seller, who is openly faking Tolkien signatures. I have reported the seller. If others could to the same, would be great.

Really shows though, you don't want to buy cut signatures. Practice enough, and these become plausible fakes.

This site uses affiliate links for which we may be compensated

Signed J.R.R Tolkien Brown Card - SEE DESCRIPTION - 4x2 inch

257355694440

Seller: dazza_5

(690)

Buy-It-Now:

£8.00

I guess the plan is to make a little scrap on this while he improves his forgeries? Admit they are fakes and don't charge too much, then sign something worth more for a big payday down the road.