Farmer Giles Of Ham Signed And Dated By Pauline Baynes: FIRST EDITION AUTHOR: Tolkien, J. R. R. Illustrated By Baynes, PaulinePUBLISHER: Allen & UnwinDATE: 1949EDITION: 1st editionIllustrated throughout by Pauline Baynes. Signed and dated 'Pauline Diana Baynes '58' to the title page. Originally completed in 1937, just after 'The Hobbit', this work was not published until 1949. It was the first of Tolkien's works to be illustrated by Baynes and launched her career. Tolkien wrote the following letter to her on the 4th June, 1949: 'Dear Miss Baynes, I ought to have written to you before to tell you of the great pleasure that your drawings in illustration of 'Farmer Giles' have given me. My friends, very justly, said after seeing them that they had reduced the text to a commentary on the pictures. I have now seen and returned the 'paste-up'; and though I am glad that so many of the illustrations have been preserved, at least in the sense that they are represented, I am distressed. Ignorant as I am of the costs and of production-processes, I had hoped for a larger page and space. I fear it has done small justice to your beautiful line and pattern to reduce the size so drastically. Even so, what little value this rather slender 'squib' has is much enhanced by your work. I am hoping soon to get some larger works published, and in a more ample fashion; and if so, I hope you might be interested, or at least have time to consider them. One, a long romance in sequel to The Hobbit, is finished after some years of work, and is being typed. It is held up at the moment, since I am immersed in examinations and other weary business; but when it's done, I wonder if I could prevail on you to glance at it. I hope that we may perhaps (have the?) opportunity of meeting ere (?) Yours sincerely, J.R.R. Tolkien'. One of Tolkien's greatest friends, C. S. Lewis had also admired her work in 'Farmer Giles of Ham' and chose her to illustrate the first work in his 'Narnia' series with the contract being agreed with his publisher, Geoffrey Bles in August, 1949. Binding nice and tight, with very slight forward lean. Pages and illustrations nice and clean. Boards slightly dusty, marked and rubbed but generally nice and bright. Very good indeed in a very good indeed slightly nicked, chipped, rubbed and price-clipped, supplied dustwrapper which has short closed tears to the front and rear panels. Exceptionally scarce signed and in a lovely and clean first-issue dustwrapper. 001676 BOOKRFREE POSTAGE IN THE UK. FOR OVERSEAS ORDERS WE USE THE EBAY GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM.Trading since 1976 in Ripon, North Yorkshire, Hornseys’ specialises in fine quality products across many different ranges. Thank you for looking.