Sotheby's Auction July 9 2026 - inc. items from the library of Eileen Elgar

The Lord of the Rings. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1961
BOLDLY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR IN EACH VOLUME in blue ballpoint pen on preliminary blank, later impressions (Fellowship: 11th impression; Two Towers and Return: 8th impression), half-titles, illustrations, maps including folding maps at the end of each volume, original red cloth, spines lettered in gilt, top edges red, lacking dust-jackets, the odd stray spot at margins, extremities very slightly rubbed
[With, loosely inserted:]
1 page autograph note explaining the Creation myth of Middle Earth and proposing the presentation of a copy of Tree and Leaf
A BOLDLY SIGNED SET OF TOLKIEN'S LEGENDARY TRILOGY, TOGETHER WITH A REMARKABLE AUTOGRAPH NOTE ON THE MYTHIC CREATION OF THE RACE OF DWARVES, A UNIQUE RECORD OF THE AUTHOR'S UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP WITH AN AVID FAN.
These volumes, alongside the extraordinary autograph note, were both presented by the author to Eileen Elgar, a known correspondent. In a letter to his grandson of 16 October 1963, Tolkien describes Eileen as an "admirer" who lives near to the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, noting that she is "highly intelligent & well-read" though sadly "stone deaf", necessitating the arduous process of conversation "by writing pad" (Letter 249, Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 334)
The autograph note included in the present lot, loosely inserted in Fellowship of the Ring, appears to be a product of the cumbersome method of communication necessitated by Eileen's disability: it is hastily penned in ballpoint on a scrap of lined notepaper and with two crossed-out words on the bottom of the verso not obviously connected to the main prose. However, it is clearly also the product of a lively, in-depth discussion, and delves into significant detail regarding Middle Earth Creation lore:

• "Only the Creator could "create". To attempt to do was a prime sign. The Valar were however in great desire to see Elves and Men. Aule (one of the Valar) tried to 'make' them in secret. God knew this; but Aule was so humble and repentant that God accepted them, and gave them life. — but they had to sleep until His own children (Elves & Men) went in the world. 'Aule's people' are the Dwarves".
  

The Creation myth sketched out in this note would later be expounded upon by the author more fully in the chapter "Of Aulë and Yavanna" in The Silmarillion. On the verso of the note, Tolkien asks Eileen whether she would "like a copy of [his] next book, which contains a short story called Leaf by Niggle (about an artist)". Tolkien evidently kept his promise: see lot 86.

A collection of signed volumes, comprising:

• (i) The Hobbit or There and Back Again. London: Puffin Books, 1961. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR TO UPPER MARGIN OF HALF-TITLE in blue ballpoint pen ("J.R.R. Tolkien"), 8vo, first paperback edition, original wrappers by Pauline Baynes, minor wear to extremities
  
• (ii) The Lord of the Rings. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd./Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1963. EACH VOLUME SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR TO HALF-TITLE in black ballpoint pen ("J.R.R. Tolkien"), deluxe edition, later impressions (thirteenth impression [volume one], tenth impression [volumes two and three]), 3 volumes, 8vo, illustrations, maps including folding maps at the end of each volume, black buckram, spines lettered in gilt, edges gilt, original ribbon bookmarks, housed in original slipcase by Pauline Baynes, spine of volume two slightly faded (as usual)
  

A HANDSOME GROUP, SIGNED FOR TOLKIEN'S FRIEND AND DEDICATED FAN EILEEN ELGAR.

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, 1963
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, PRESENTATION COPY, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR TO THE FRONT FREE ENDPAPER in black ink, 8vo, in-text illustrations, pictorial boards, dust-jacket, minor edgewear
[with, loosely inserted:]
Autograph letter signed ("Ronald Tolkien"), to Eileen Elgar, thanking her for her postcard from Barbados, presenting her with "the promised copy of my book of verses, with best wishes for Christmas", outlining bibliographical differences between the English and American first editions, and REFERENCING HIS SADNESS AT THE DEATH OF HIS FELLOW AUTHOR AND INKLING ("I have been very much bereaved by the death of my friend C.S. Lewis on November 22nd"), 2 pages, headed stationery of 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford, 14 December 1963

Tree and Leaf. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964
FIRST EDITION, hardback, PRESENTATION COPY, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR in black ballpoint pen, WITH AUTOGRAPH NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR PRESENTING THE VOLUME loosely inserted (previously taped in), 8vo, title-page with facsimile of Tolkien's signature, publisher's dark green textured cloth, spine stamped in gilt, dust-jacket, small areas of old tape residue to front flap of dust-jacket and front free endpaper, dust-jacket slightly browned and frayed
FIRST EDITION, WITH A HEARTFELT AUTOGRAPH NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR TO EILEEN ELGAR, SENDING HER "A SMALL GIFT WITH VERY BEST WISHES".
The note, penned in Tolkien's distinctive hand in black fountain pen, is dated "Dec. 13 1967", suggesting that he presented this attractive volume to Eileen as a Christmas gift. (Tolkien is known to have presented another copy of the same edition to another recipient, Elizabeth Jennings, also as a Christmas present with an accompanying note).
Tolkien had previously discussed giving Eileen a copy of Tree and Leaf when he met her in person, suggesting that she might find the short story Leaf by Niggle of particular interest (see lot 83). He appears to have sent her a copy of the paperback issue before the present volume, as a typed letter signed inserted in that copy is dated 29th August 1966 (see next lot). In the note accompanying the present volume, Tolkien adopts an apologetic and vulnerable tone:

• "Dear Mrs Elgar, I send you a small gift with very best wishes. I have not forgotten — but I have had an unusually troubled time: with a weight of business and other cares, leaving no time for letters, and ending in an illness of my own since September from which I am now slowly recovering. Yours sincerely Ronald Tolkien".
  

It is noteworthy that he signs off as "Ronald Tolkien" (rather than the more formal "J.R.R. Tolkien"), revealing the warmth of his developing friendship with Eileen.

Typed letter signed, to Eileen Elgar, mentioning his work on the Silmarillion and discussing his travel plans, 1 page, headed stationery of 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford, 29 August 1966, previously folded
[loosely inserted into:]
Tree and Leaf. London: Unwin Books, 1964. FIRST EDITION IN PAPERBACK, 8vo, facsimile of Tolkien's signature on title-page, publisher's pictorial wrappers, wrappers slightly toned and delaminating at edges
Tolkien had promised Eileen a copy of Tree and Leaf (see autograph note accompanying lot 83) and he later sent her a copy of the first hardback edition (see previous lot). In the letter accompanying the present volume, the author thanks Eileen for her "long letter of the 20th August" and apologises "for [his] neglect of [her] during the recent months", owing to a busy schedule and "more anxieties than my health and time can cope with". Tolkien looks forward to a "long needed" foreign holiday with his wife on a cruise to Smyrna, and sympathises with Eileen's chronic ear condition (she had been deaf since birth), praising her stoicism.
Also notable is the letter's reference to Tolkien's ongoing struggle to compose the collection of mythopoeic writings that had initially begun working on half a century previously, but which would remain unfinished upon his death in 1973 ("I have got no further with The Silmarillion, but hope to get on with it when I return in the autumn").