Edited by Trotter on 2020-10-9 6:01:13 AM UTC Edited by Trotter on 2020-10-9 6:05:10 AM UTC
2020-10-3 6:02:35 PM UTC
Leslie Hindman auctioneers are having a live (and online) auction on October 8th, 2020 in Chicago, where four Tolkien related items are up for bidding. Included is a manuscript (handwritten) two page letter to George Sayer, and a first edition copy of The Road Goes Ever On that includes a signature card and George Sayer's invitation to Donald Swann's London performance both tipped in.
8vo. 4 colored plates and 9 illustrations by the author. Publisher’s original tan cloth, title stamped in blue with bowing Hobbit device stamped in red on upper cover, pictorial map endpapers (some wear to spine ends, some minor staining, lacking dust jacket). FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, second impression, with the publisher’s device on the title-page. Hammond and Anderson A3b.
Estimate $1,000 - $1,500 Sold for $2,500 inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Together, 3 volumes, 8vo. Folding map tipped-in each volume. Original red cloth (slightly leaned); pictorial dust jackets (closed tear crossing front panel and portion of spine and 1 ½-in. separation to upper joint of The Fellowship, some minor losses to spine ends, some minor soiling or creasing, a few short tears) ; half morocco folding case. Provenance: George Sayer (1914-2005), teacher at Malvern College, biographer of C. S. Lewis (signature in vol. I, see below).
Estimate - $20,000 - $30,000 Sold for $38,400 inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
4to. Title printed in red and black, marginal decoration in Tengwar by Tolkien printed in gray and black. Original boards lettered in red; original printed dust jacket. Provenance: George Sayer (1914-2005), teacher at Malvern College, biographer of C. S. Lewis (invitation to a reception tipped in).
FIRST EDITION. SIGNED CALLING CARD BY TOLKIEN mounted to front free endpaper (slightly smudged). George Sayer’s copy, with an invitation tipped in to a 14 March [1968] reception “to hear the first London performance of Donald Swann’s musical settings of poems by Professor Tolkien, sung by William Elvin with the composer at the piano. The Song Cycle, The Road Goes Ever On, with embellishments and commentary by J. R. R. Tolkien will be published in book form on 28th March.”
Estimate - $1,500 - $2,500 Sold for $1,920 inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
This letter is summarized in Scull & Hammond's JRR Tolkien Companion and Guide - Chronology (2017), pp. 408-409
Estimate - $4,000 - $6,000
This letter sold at Christie's in November 2001 for £8225. The seller will hope it clears the estimate by quite a margin. Surely that is very much on the low end?
This letter sold at Christie's in November 2001 for £8225. The seller will hope it clears the estimate by quite a margin. Surely that is very much on the low end?
The cosignor must accept bids that fall below range of the estimate (I believe 50% of estimate but have no concrete basis, just hearsay). The auction house gets good press if items sell for way above the estimate. So it is a push and pull between the consignor and the auction house to come up with an estimate that both are happy with. It does not necessarily have any bearing on what either of them actually think the item will sell for, independently.
This letter sold at Christie's in November 2001 for £8225. The seller will hope it clears the estimate by quite a margin. Surely that is very much on the low end?
The cosignor must accept bids that fall below range of the estimate (I believe 50% of estimate but have no concrete basis, just hearsay). The auction house gets good press if items sell for way above the estimate. So it is a push and pull between the consignor and the auction house to come up with an estimate that both are happy with. It does not necessarily have any bearing on what either of them actually think the item will sell for, independently.
My word valuations are so much more complicated than I ever considered. Thanks Urulókë that is indeed very interesting. It seems a low estimate makes sense all told, it will be interesting how this auction unfolds.
Thanks for updating with results. As we both suspected, a vastly higher price than the estimate.
I find these auctions quite exciting when they appear. I can't afford these kind of items so it's great to see and be able to read details and see images of these important items.
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