The 'antique pencil sketch' doesn't appear to be all that 'antique', the style of drawing isn't Tolkien's, let alone typical of his early work, nor is it his signature. Isn't it amazing how much is being found when clearing houses! As for the latest non-signature, it's a less than half-hearted attempt.

Wayne and Christina

Another sketch purportedly done by Tolkien: http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-PENCIL-SK ... wings?hash=item33594593d9

It is the same seller as the last 'picture' as the text is virtually identical but a different eBay account.

Fake 1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-PENCIL-SK ... wings?hash=item33594593d9

Fake 2

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-PENCIL-SK ... wings?hash=item45efe9d072

I'm going to report this seller as well to eBay.

This is not on Ebay but I hope it's ok to post in this thread anyway. What do people think about this signature:

http://www.elybooks.com/Details.aspx?BookNum=1478

Those pictures look distorted. Here's a better one -

https://affiliates.abebooks.com/c/9724 ... %2526x%253D31%2526y%253D8

(sorry - didn't realize the address was so long. It might be betterto go to abe and search for Tolkien and Bayntun)

The signature looks ok to me - if it were not, it certainly isn't one of the latest batch of bad forgeries. I've seen this set beforeI think; years ago. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if Bayntuns are still going. They are(or were) a firm of high repute. Their work is first class.

Bayntun are still going - I pass their shop every time I go into Bath by train. I have to try very hard to stop myself going in!

- wellinghall

Thanks, Wellinghall. Oddly, I can find nothing about Bayntuns on the net. It's good to know they're still going.

I think this is their website, although it seems to be down just at the moment -

http://www.georgebayntun.com/

If anyone is interested, their contact details are -

George Bayntun
Manvers Street
BATH Somerset BA1 1JW
tel: 01225 466000 fax: 01225 482122

Occasional perusals of their shelves and website have revealed some very nice stuff there (although little or no Tolkien), but at equally "nice" prices!

- wellinghall

Words fail me ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOLKIENS-ROYAL- ... tible?hash=item439d5d15ad

- wellinghall

This is the best to date!

Words dont fail me but not appropriate to post i'm sure.

I wonder if this is the same typewriter that recent letters offered for sale were typed on. I am guessing it is and if so maybe we have seen the last of them or is this too optomistic.

The funny thing is that not only did Tolkien leave a load of letters and signed books to all sorts of people in the house in the loft but he also took and left his typewriter as well. How careless?

Soulds perfectly plausible to me - I will checking my savings to buy this piece of history.