TCG Letter #1926

This letter, the first of Tolkien's series of Father Christmas Letters written for his children, was dated 22 December 1920. It is addressed to John but not Michael, who was at this time only 2 months old.

Published first in 1976 by George Allen & Unwin, the series of letters has been published in a variety of versions since with new reproductions and transcripts following across 10 unique editions and multiple reprints.

This 1920 letter is short and notes that John had asked his father about Father Christmas and his house to which 'Father Christmas' includes a picture of himself and his house.

Included as part of the letter image, but not transcribed in most editions, is the dedication "Love to daddy, mummy, michael & auntie [&?] mary" and Ian Hollenbaugh notes in his Toward an Annotated Father Christmas^{unpublished research paper[1]} that the reading in FCL94 is likely incorrect. He notes that it is more likely to be two different people rather than 'Auntie Mary'.

In 'Toward an Annotated Father Christmas' Ian Hollenbaugh further notes the following details:

• The letter says "Christmas Eve", but the envelope says "DEC 23 1923"

• Father Christmas’s hesitation about his age reflects the uncertainty about the date of the birth of Christ, which was most likely between 7 and 4 BCE, though some traditions place it between 3 and 1 BCE. Hence why he is older than the year (1923) and is confused about his own age. The assumption, of course, is that Father Christmas is as old as the Christmas holiday itself, however old that may be. In the letter of 1925 ^{Letter from Father Christmas to John and Michael Tolkien • Christmas 1925 (#1930)[2]} he says he is “1925 years old”, making the confusion about his age even worse.

• “Lots older than your great-grandfather” – Tolkien’s grandfather, John Suffield (1833 – 1930), was indeed alive at this time, aged 90, and had visited the Tolkiens in 1923 (see Biography:113). He lived another seven years, being 97 at the time of his death.

• “Lotts Bricks” and “Picabrix” : Lott’s Bricks Ltd was started by E.A. Lott, and produced simple artificial-stone blocks in reasonably naturalistic colours, in rectangular and wedge shapes from 1918 onwards. The blocks were stacked without any special pegs or joints, relying on weight and friction to stay together. Roofs were hinged pieces of printed cardboard. (from the Brighton Toy and Model Index webpage).^{https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Lotts_Bricks[3]} The Picabrix wooden block construction set system was patented by Arthur Gray Pickard in 1921, and manufactured by the Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Company, Ltd. in Altringham, England. The core system consisted of a set of rectangular blocks and wedges with holes drilled in all the faces, and wooden pegs or dowels to peg everything together.

1920	A 76	B 94	C 95	D 99	E 04	F 09	G 12	H 19	I 20	J 23
Letter, "I heard you ask Daddy what I was like...", 1 page	3	1/3	L1	8	7	8	8	12	12	12
Transcription		1/6	L1v	8	6	9	9	13	13	13
Art - "Me" and "My House" (2023 ed. "Me" = FC / "My House" = RC)	3	1/5	4	9	7	7	7	11	11	11 FC RC
Envelope "Mrs. Tolkien / & / Master John..."			3	6	RC	9	9	13	13	13
Stamp - red, "2" upper left, "Kisses" upper right, "North Pole Postage" on bottom	4	1/16	3	2	FT	9	9	13	13	13