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J.R.R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, born in 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, was the most influential fantasy author of the 20th century. A professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, Tolkien’s academic work in philology and his fascination with mythology deeply influenced his literary creations. His masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, published between 1954 and 1955, along with The Hobbit (1937), established Tolkien as the father of modern high fantasy. His intricate world-building, creation of fictional languages, and exploration of themes such as good versus evil have had a lasting impact on the fantasy genre. Tolkien’s works have sold hundreds of millions of copies and have been adapted into award-winning films, cementing his legacy in popular culture.

On the runes used in The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien, 3 August 1943

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937

Proofs for the Lord of the Rings trilogy

J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954

The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954-1955

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). The Hobbit . London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1937.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). The Hobbit; or, There and Back Again . London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1937. 8° (190 x132mm). Frontispiece and eight text illustrations by the author, inserted half-tone plate by the author, integral advertisement leaf at end. (Very faint scattered spotting to endpapers, front prelims, half-title and title, text-block fractionally split at gathering L, but the whole sound and clean.) Original publisher's light green cloth stamped in dark blue, off-white endpapers printed with Thror's map and a map of Wilderland in red and black after drawings by the author, top edge stained light green (top fore-corner of upper cover faintly bumped, faint spotting and dust-soiling to top edge), ORIGINAL PICTORIAL DUST-JACKET after a drawing by the author, with 'Dodgeson' corrected by hand on rear flap (price-clipped, edges frayed with associated small tears and chips to joints and top margin of rear cover, larger chipping to head and tail of spine, light soiling to spine, top edge and joints, faint spotting to flaps, fractionally more heavy to verso). Provenance : Theodore Bosanquet (neat ink ownership inscription to blank prelim). A FRESH COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Currey p.476; Hammond A3a.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). Two autograph letters signed ('J.R.R. Tolkien') to Doris Sykes, Merton College, Oxford, and Headington, 28 January 1956 and n.d., 5½ pages, 4to (the first with minor markings in red pencil), envelope.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)

Letter to C. Gilmore. 3 July 1961

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). A series of eight autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed ('J.R.R.T.', 'J.R.R. Tolkien', 'Ronald Tolkien', one unsigned) to Professor Przemyslaw Mroczkowski, one to Mrs Mrockzkowska, Bournemouth, Headington and n.p., 2 August 1946 - 10 April 1969, together 13 pages, 8vo and 4to, in autograph, and 2 pages, 4to, typescript , envelope; with a typescript of an essay by Mroczkowski on the New Robinson Chaucer with very extensive corrections in Tolkien's hand, commentary at the end on approx 2 pages, 4to ; [ with ] two autograph letters signed to the Mroczkowskis by C.S. Lewis, 8 March and 13 May 1958, arranging a meeting and discussing a Polish translation of one of his books, 1½ pages, 8vo and 4to . Provenance : by descent from the recipients.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)

Autograph manuscript, diagrams of Old English phonology, notes for Tolkien's lectures at the University of Oxford, [1942]

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). Two autograph letters signed (‘JRRT’ and ‘JRR Tolkien’) to Jonathan Hepworth and to his father, [Oxford], 18 December 1963.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973)

Autograph letter signed ('JRR Tolkien') to Michael Bell, [Oxford] 'c/o Messrs Allen and Unwin, 40 Museum Street', 14 January 1969.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973)

One page, 252 x 202mm. Provenance : by descent from the recipient. 'I congratulate you on managing the metre. C.S. Lewis tried and was totally defeated' . Sending thanks for remembering him again this year [at Christmas] and best wishes to his family. Lots 92 and 93 show Tolkien engaging with Michael Bell on the subject of poetry, praising the work produced by Bell and his wife. Writing two years later, he mentions again C.S. Lewis; the composition of verse was among the many shared pursuits enjoyed by the two friends.

TOLKIEN, J. R. R. (1892-1973). Autograph postcard signed (‘J R R T’) to [Alan] Rook, [20 Northmoor Road, Oxford], 21 April 1943.

TOLKIEN, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973). Two typed letters signed and one typed letter without signature to Roger Verhulst and the William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Headington, 8 April 1966 - 4 December 1967, in the unsigned letter returning to publishing matters in regard to a memorial volume to Charles Williams [see previous lot], reiterating his objections to a proposed book about him by W.H. Auden, and mentioning work on The Silmarillion , adding rather tartly 'The chief obstacle to its publication is at present the mass of my correspondence'; a letter of 3 May 1966 acknowledges receipt of the Charles Williams volume; in December 1967, Tolkien writes appreciatively about C.S. Lewis's Letters to an American Lady , a copy of which Verhulst had sent him, 'I found them deeply interesting and very moving, and on certain points also to me enlightening', 3 pages, 8vo and 4to ; with three related letters. (3)

TOLKIEN, John Reginald Reuel (1892-1973). The Silmarillion . London, Boston & Sidney: George Allen & Unwin, 1977. 8° (215 x 135mm). 2 maps, of which one folding. Modern red morocco for Asprey and Garrard with multi-colour onlays on covers, spine gilt, gilt edges.