Lot 115

Tolkien (J.R.R.) Typed Letter signed to Martin Berry, discussing his dislike of being photographed, the development of runes in his books and offering commiserations on the death of his father, 9th May, 1972

Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000

Currency

Description

Tolkien (J.R.R.) Typed Letter signed to Martin Berry, 1p., Merton College, Oxford, 9th May, 1972, discussing his dislike of being photographed, the development of runes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and offering commiserations on the death of his father, with three small alterations by Tolkien in pencil, light toning and folds, 4to.

"I avoid being photographed as much as possible and do not keep the results"

An excellent letter from Tolkien to the son of Leslie Berry (see previous lot). Due to the number of apparent typing errors, this letter was very likely typed by Tolkien himself rather than by a secretary. Besides his comment regarding his dislike of being photographed, Tolkien discusses the origin of the runes used in his books including the change in transliteration of the rune Othala. In a typically self-deprecating line, he points Berry to the notes in an edition of the Hobbit but also highlights some errors in the same passage.

Tolkien ends by offering his commiserations on the death of Leslie Berry, declaring "I owe a considerable debt of gratitude to all the sales department of Allen & Unwin."

Condition

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Description

Tolkien (J.R.R.) Typed Letter signed to Martin Berry, 1p., Merton College, Oxford, 9th May, 1972, discussing his dislike of being photographed, the development of runes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and offering commiserations on the death of his father, with three small alterations by Tolkien in pencil, light toning and folds, 4to.

"I avoid being photographed as much as possible and do not keep the results"

An excellent letter from Tolkien to the son of Leslie Berry (see previous lot). Due to the number of apparent typing errors, this letter was very likely typed by Tolkien himself rather than by a secretary. Besides his comment regarding his dislike of being photographed, Tolkien discusses the origin of the runes used in his books including the change in transliteration of the rune Othala. In a typically self-deprecating line, he points Berry to the notes in an edition of the Hobbit but also highlights some errors in the same passage.

Tolkien ends by offering his commiserations on the death of Leslie Berry, declaring "I owe a considerable debt of gratitude to all the sales department of Allen & Unwin."

Condition

Please add your question to the description field below.

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