Hi Lokki,

This (Tim Kirk 69) Tolkien calendar has quite a bit going for it - the first Tolkien calendar (predates all of the official ones), very few copies, well made, and nice artwork to boot. The ones the current seller has (no idea how many) seem to be coming from the files of one of the fan publishers of the zine it came from, so they are in really nice shape.

From what I have seen recently, these are going for a few hundred dollars and up on eBay. If the market gets flooded with many copies, that price will come down, obviously, but there cannot be too many copies to begin with. If you are a Tolkien calendar collector, this is a must have issue for your collection, but patience will always be rewarded if you work hard.

From what I've read that the seller posted and the events as they have unfolded:

First auction of this calendar from this seller ended 13 November. After 20 bids, it sold for US$325. They represented it from the files of Ken Rudolph, stored flat for all those years, and essentially mint condition. As the first one went for that price, the seller must think that they can get the same for the next one (or will at least try with a Buy It Now offer at $325.) Bidders can also make an offer on it which seller can accept or refuse.

Sooooo ... To the question, how much is it worth? As I say on my website, it's worth whatever a buyer and seller agree upon. I have seen these appear once or twice a year over the last three - four years. One went in a bidders' frenzy for over $800. I got a bargain (seemingly) when I found one completely mint in the original Meretricious Christmas Supplement (Dec 1968) for "only" $235.

So Jeremy's comments are spot on. If you are a collector, this a must have. They are limited in number (unknown. Even Tim Kirk could not remember how many they made.) They do appear now and then. But these are mint (and the fanzine can be found without it to make a set.) Could you find another for less $$$? Perhaps. But as they say on "American Pickers," the time to buy something rare is when it's right in front of you.

I'd suggest trying the "Make an Offer" option and feel out the seller. Start out "low" (less than $325.) You can always go higher if they refuse. There are currently seven watchers. Others may have already made such offers. That gives the seller a feel for what they can get for it. And, who knows how many extra copies were in Ken's files?

Good luck! Post further questions/comments. I'll be watching.

Thank you very much Jeremy, thank you very much Parmastahir!

I really appreciate your help, it means a lot to me as I started my Tolkien collecting only 4 months ago (alhough I am a Tolkien fan since I was 10 :) ). I am a huge bibliophile and already have a small library at my home (history books, sf and fantasy, philosophy..). Tolkien is my new project :). So, I will definitely try to get this calendar, I cannot agree more with both of you! I've read that only 500 of them were made initially, so I doubt that more than 50 are available today. In the great book ''The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide'' from Mr. Hammond and Ms. Scull I didn't find much information on Tim Kirk and that calendar, so your info was very helpful to me. I still have to read their ''J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive bibliography'' though.
I will see, maybe I start collecting calendars, it is a great hobby to have. My current priority is to collect old Tolkieniana published prior to Tolkien's death, I want to preserve it for the future, we will see how things will develop. :)

Hulloo Loki - You are more than welcome for comments. Best of luck with this one! Only one other piece of advice, more so a caveat: Beware the collecting bug! I knew not where it would take me once it bit. However, I would not change anything. Yes, I have spent far more than I ever thought I would. But the friendships that have resulted are more valuable and fun than the calendars themselves.

Phil

The seller accepted a $250 offer price on one of the copies just a bit ago:

eBay Item #111217126423

Thanks for the tip, I've already spent too much for this few months.
However, now I have a nice small collection to begin with :), including first edition LOTR set with DJs from U.K , ACE set and a nice set of Tolkien interviews. I have a feeling calendars will also be on the list :). Thank you Jeremy for the info, I see the price is always in few hundred dollars range, I hope it won't go any higher than that before I manage to buy one.

Just an FYI noted on the eBay seller's listing for the Tim Kirk calendar:

FYI: we have sold seven copies in VF plus since this trove was discovered and this is the last in this good shape
We still have a few copies in fine shape

So it sounds like this particular batch of nice condition calendars is running low, and afterwards the market will return to the occasional (one per year plus/minus) showing up for sale.

eBay Item #111234304943

As to the 1969 Ken Rudolph calendar: Two are currently listed on eBay by different sellers. Am wondering if the market for these is somewhat saturated as several recent listings went calling and were relisted. As uncommon (preceding the marketing of Ken Rudolph's hoard, I would have said rare) as these are, there are only so many collectors of Tolkien calendars (specifically) or Tolkienalia (in general.)

Updated Compleat Gyde to Tolkien Calendars site today. Changed out the "Calendar of the Month" (which is a misnomer as it's often up for several months before I do so again.) Recent updates have included pages displaying the monthly illustrations for many of the more recent calendars. Am working my way backwards (now around 2011) and slowly forwards (just made the 1981 Ballantine the CotM feature) on these. Monthly illos are now available for 99 of the multipage calendars.

Happy Spring to all! Hope your Tolkien Reading Day was fun!

Parm

Thank you for info Parmastahir!

My girlfriend got Ken Rudolph 1969 calendar from that hoard for a bit over 300 dollars. It was one of the first that was sold from that hoard so it is in near mint condition. It really is beautiful.

Prices have dropped since then. I bought mine now for $110.