Heritage Auction Tree and Leaf

J. R. R. Tolkien. Tree and Leaf. London: George Allen & Unwin LTD, [1964].

8vo. Publisher's dark green textured cloth, spine stamped in gilt; original dust jacket; quarter morocco folding case.

FIRST EDITION, hardcover copy. PRESENTATION COPY, WITH AN AUTOGRAPH NOTE NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR laid-in: "Dear Elizabeth, Very best wishes. I hope you have some cheer at Christmas. Remember me to C. D. L. I believe I have only once met him and wish it were more often. Yours ever affectionately, Ronald."

The recipient, Elizabeth Joan Jennings (1926-2001), was the daughter of Dr. Henry Cecil Jennings, a close friend of Tolkien beginning during their undergraduate days at Oxford. She was the younger sister of Aileen Jennings, generally held to be the only child ("a girl of 12-13") who read The Hobbit before Mr. Unwin "tried it out." Elizabeth was a notable English poet, the only female member of The Movement, and was awarded the CBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 1992.

"C. D. L." refers to Cecil Day-Lewis (1904-1972), Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1968 until his death in 1972. Jennings and Day-Lewis were great friends.

Condition: Dust jacket unclipped (priced "10s. 6d. net"); spine panel lightly sunned; a few small spots of soiling; occasional light foxing; small tape repair to front flap fold on recto; minor edgewear.

References: Hammond & Anderson A7b.

Provenance: Elizabeth [Jennings] (presentation inscription and ink ownership inscription); acquired from House of Books, Ltd., New York. From the William A. Strutz Library.