Cool item, Trotter.
I'd have to agree with Garm: (still a little rich for my blood at the moment, though).

Ah, so you bought it, Trotter? And went with your instincts; well done!

I like this piece - I've not seen many of Tolkien's letters, so the salutation 'My dear Brian' - is new to me. I'm reminded of a letter to Rayner Unwin in which Tolkien comments that he was of a generation which used last names almost exclusively. Same with the signing off; 'yours ever' - a sign of a relaxation of formality in Tolkien's later years?

And I _love_ the sig. Never seen one quite like that before, with the dots almost forming a face; and the colour is very attractive, too. A nice piece!

I second that. A very nice piece, indeed!

Heavens! Don't want to think what you paid Trotter --way, way out of my league. Maybe I should buy you a drink in Moreton...

BH

I'll probably bring it with me to Moreton, so you can see it then

Deal!

Can't afford to buy this, but I'll hopefully be able to go and have a look at it on Tuesday.
My copies also looked the same as these, sadly that was in 1963 not 2010.
-Trotter 3rd July

I decided myself that my doubts were wrong and I bought the item.
-Trotter 5th July

Incidentally Trotter, you selling your other copies?

BH

Incidentally Trotter, you selling your other copies? BH

A bit of confusion here, two items mentioned in this thread

The first was a lovely signed 1963 Deluxe LOTR which was to be sold at auction this week but it was unsold and anyway far out of my price range. I only have one battered unsigned set of these books so am not selling them.

The second was the C.T.Onions book with a letter from Tolkien in it (that was the item that I bought).

...errr, yes, I see my error. For some reason I thought the letter was with the initial item; should really follow your link next time Trotter. Not "way, way", but still way out of my price range. Very nice though. Do you think we can convince Andy (of ADC Books) to bring Hilary's copy of The Hobbit to Moreton exhibition?

BH

Andy's already shown Hilary's Hobbit at Moreton, a couple of years ago. it's very nice - I'd like to see it again.