Sotheby's Auction

English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations 12th July 2016 10:30 AM BST London

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Lot 262 Tolkien, J.R.R. THE HOBBIT. GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD., 1937
8vo, FIRST EDITION, 10 illustrations by the author, 2pp. of publisher's advertisements at end, recent full green calf with design of a forest in green morocco onlays on both upper and lower covers, morocco doublures, top edge gilt, original endpapers in red and black preserved, morocco slipcase, some minor colouring to frontispiece and front endpaper, some very minor scratches to spine

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/e ... ions-l16404-/lot.262.html

Lot 263 Tolkien, J.R.R. THE RETURN OF THE KING. ALLEN & UNWIN LTD., 1954
8vo, AN APPARENTLY UNRECORDED ISSUE OF UNBOUND PAGE PROOFS OF THE MAIN TEXT comprising 20 gatherings of 8 leaves, TWO PAGES WITH MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS BY THE AUTHOR (pages 135-36), numerous pencil corrections in another hand, TOGETHER WITH AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED WITH INITIALS ("J.R.R.T.") presenting the work, ownership signature on first leaf, several conjugate leaves separated, first leaf of gathering 17 torn, lacking final blank, some spotting and browning, occasional tears and chips

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Lot 264 Tolkien, J.R.R. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("J.R.R. TOLKIEN") TO MISS [JOYCE] BIDDELL
Expressing pleasure that "my books should have cheered you… from your generous and saddening work" and expressing views on morality in his work ("…they are so 'moral', and are founded on Pity; on the triumph and the defeat of Pity. The Lord of the Rings is indeed an exemplary legend. But this sounds dreadfully priggish when said") and the Englishness of his books ("…they are (I think) so completely English. For one with a German name this may sound an odd thing… But 'surnames' are largely delusory… My name entered England 200 years ago anyway"); also expressing frustration on the delays in publication of the final volume of The Lord of the Rings ("…I can hardly bear with patience your patience – I am so anxious for my readers to come to the end! Vol iii will come out, at last… I must say that I should like to think of you reaching the grand conclusion (and its sadness: like all things human seen in Time), and perhaps re-reading it again…"), 2 pages, 8vo, embossed stationery of 76 Sandfield Road, Oxford, 24 October 1955, one fold, two cuts around signature

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Lot 265 Tolkien, J.R.R. THE LORD OF THE RINGS. ALLEN AND UNWIN LTD, 1969
8vo, first "India paper edition", SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on verso of front free endpaper, illustrations, 2 folding maps, original pictorial black cloth, slipcase, final blank leaf torn with some loss, extremities of slipcase worn

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/e ... ions-l16404-/lot.265.html