TCG Letter #2257

445. Tolkien (J.R.R.) AUTOGRAPH POEM, 2pp. on both sides of personalised postcard, numerous notes on verso, 140 x 88mm., n.d. [c.1925-1960], by the dates and events reference on the verso, the notes were written over a period of time, Tolkien's hand and the ink used noticeably change during this time, the poem begins "Aredhel went forth in blossom white" and APPEARS TO BE UNPUBLISHED, the notes on the verso are largely in connection with Tolkien's day-to-day life, some browning. £4,000 - £6,000

+++ A SEEMINGLY UNPUBLISHED POEM BY TOLKIEN.
While the notes on the verso are relatively innocuous "Tobacco, Matches, See John ... Ask Edith about Wordsworth" etc. THEY PROVIDE A REMARKABLE INSIGHT INTO TOLKIEN'S EVERYDAY LIFE.
An in-depth examination of the notes as well as their potential significance and a full transcription of the poem are both available upon request.

But is it really a Tolkien poem? The handwriting doesn't look like his. The content of the card is a conglomeration of words and phrases evocative of Tolkien, e.g. 'Fingolfin', 'tobacco', 'Arwen', 'Edith', 'mass', so much so that it seems designed to overwhelm suspicion with a weight of references. Also, we've looked through our files of Tolkien letters, but haven't found any attested example of this particular printed card. We do have examples of Tolkien cards with the same personalized wording, using the same capitalization and spacing, but not the same typeface. The attested Merton cards use a variety of a face called Copperplate Gothic, frequently found on stationery; but the face on the postcard in question, indeed on both sides - and most suspiciously, also in the 'rubber stamp' - appears to be Adobe Myriad, a digital font introduced only in 1992.

Wayne & Christina