Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. 1958 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. London: George Allen and Unwin. Second edition, tenth impression overall. Signed by Tolkien to a card pasted to the half title page, the signature with colouring over it in red pen by the recipient's daughter. Publisher's cloth in an unclipped dust wrapper, the wrapper with light losses to the edges and chipping to the spine ends, the spine a little toned, the joint ends a touch chipped and the joints appearing quite delicate, the book itself lightly bruised and discoloured at the spine ends, the closed page edges spotted. A few spots to the prelims, foxing to the rear of the frontispiece. Illustrated with colour frontispiece by the author and monochrome plates beside.
Together with a letter from Edith Tolkien to Mrs. Kathleen Walden on Hotel Miramar letterhead paper, dated June 25th 1966; four sides, detailing their recent stay together at the Miramar after the Waldens' departure, humorously gossiping about various characters staying at the hotel and describing an incident in which a man broke into the hotel overnight. Towards the end, 'Ronald appreciates your interest & enjoyment in his books. I felt it was rather a cheek to ask Jocelyn about the Autographs - so am very glad she is pleased to have them. She'll enjoy Farmer Giles & the illustrations are delightful. Have you come across 'Tom Bombadil' and 'Tree and Leaf'?. Signed, affectionately yours, Edith M. Tolkien.
An early edition in an attractive wrapper, complete with the coveted signature of Tolkien himself, and together with a charming letter from Edith Tolkien referring to the signatures. 8vo. (1)
Provenance: from the estate of the late Brenda Jocelyn Walden. Her parents, Kathleen (née Randall) Walden and Henry George Walden, were friends with J. R. R. Tolkien and used to correspond and holiday together, regularly staying at the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, Edith Tolkien’s favourite. Kathleen told her great nieces and nephews that they called Tolkien ‘JRR’. These three books were gifted from Tolkien to the Waldens; it is thought that Kathleen removed the signature on paper in The Two Towers from a lengthy letter, the whereabouts and contents of which are unknown. The signature pasted into The Return of the King is on the verso of a monochrome illustration of the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, taken from Miramar letterheaded paper. The signature pasted into The Hobbit has been playfully coloured in by Kathleen and George’s daughter, from whose estate the works are from.
Features: With letter from Edith Tolkien & signature of J. R. R. Tolkien tipped-in Publisher: George Allen and Unwin Publisher Location: London Publication Date: 1958 Binding: Hardcover Edition: Second Printing: Tenth overall
Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. 1957 The Two Towers. London: George Allen & Unwin. First edition, fifth impression. Signed by the author to tipped-in slip to the front endpaper; Publisher's red cloth in unclipped dust wrapper, the spine edges toned with light chipping and bruising to the edges, a few little marks to the panels, the spine ends of the book a little bumped. Closed page edges and prelims a little spotted, the hinges a touch loose. A bright early edition with the coveted signature of Tolkien himself. 8vo. (1)
Provenance: from the estate of the late Brenda Jocelyn Walden. Her parents, Kathleen (née Randall) Walden and Henry George Walden, were friends with J. R. R. Tolkien and used to correspond and holiday together, regularly staying at the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, Edith Tolkien’s favourite. Kathleen told her great nieces and nephews that they called Tolkien ‘JRR’. These three books were gifted from Tolkien to the Waldens; it is thought that Kathleen removed the signature on paper in The Two Towers from a letter. The signature pasted into The Return of the King is on the verso of a monochrome illustration of the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, taken from Miramar letterheaded paper. The signature pasted into The Hobbit has been playfully coloured in by Kathleen and George’s daughter, from whose estate the works are from. A letter from Edith Tolkien to Mrs. Walden is included in Lot 55.
Features: With tipped-in signature Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Publisher Location: London Publication Date: 1957 Binding: Hardcover Edition: First Printing: Fifth
Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. 1957 The Return of the King. London: George Allen & Unwin. First edition, third impression. Signed by the author to tipped in paper to the front endpaper; with light shone through, the illustration to the verso of the slip depicts the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. Publisher's red cloth in an unclipped dust wrapper with third impression statement to the spine, the spine sunned and a little chipped and bruised to the ends and corners, nicks at the joint ends, the cloth with the odd small mark, a few spots to the closed page edges and prelims, hinges a touch loose. Illustrated with folding map to rear. A bright and early edition, complete with Tolkien's coveted signature. 8vo. (1)
Provenance: from the estate of the late Brenda Jocelyn Walden. Her parents, Kathleen (née Randall) Walden and Henry George Walden, were friends with J. R. R. Tolkien and used to correspond and holiday together, regularly staying at the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, Edith Tolkien’s favourite. Kathleen told her great nieces and nephews that they called Tolkien ‘JRR’. These three books were gifted from Tolkien to the Waldens; it is thought that Kathleen removed the signature on paper in The Two Towers from a lengthy letter, the whereabouts and contents of which are unknown. The signature pasted into The Return of the King is on the verso of a monochrome illustration of the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth, taken from Miramar letterheaded paper. The signature pasted into The Hobbit has been playfully coloured in by Kathleen and George’s daughter, from whose estate the works are from. A letter from Edith Tolkien to Mrs. Walden is included in Lot 55.
Features: With tipped-in signature Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Publisher Location: London Publication Date: 1957 Binding: Hardcover Edition: First Printing: Third
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