Signed Silmarillions

I have several items signed by both Priscilla and Fr. John. Allowing for the problems of viewing through a PC, I'd say the first one looks ok to me. The second one rings some warning bells:

- What are the odds that two almost identical (and rare) articles should appear on ebay at the same time?

- The signatures in the second copy look identical to those in the first; not always a good sign!

- Both articles are said to be from 'Oxenmoot'. In the first, that's based on a mis-reading of Fr. John's writing. But I'd guess the second sales pitch is simply aping the first, and so I'd be very wary of that one.

The first auction (seller: bibliology) is for the same copy that I posted a thread about back in May. (The present auction has now finished with no takers.)

John & Priscilla Signed Silmarillion on eBay...

I can't remember the seller (nobody familiar), but evidently it was purchased by bibliology at that time: price was £157. That seller answered questions quite honestly; the opening price was pretty low if I recall; and the seller was at Oxenmoot themselves.

This gene--ius auction is indeed very suspicious. Firstly they're nearly identical. Secondly, look at the sellers rating and other two auctions: both local pick-up, with dubious return policy. I think this is a fake. In reply to how the signing came about seller replied:

Unfortunately I cannot be too sure as it was my grandfather who got them signed and he has passed on but I believe it was at Oxenmoot in 1977 which seems to be a yearly meeting for the tolkien society in the UK which he was a part of. I hope that answers your question.
- gene--ius

Seems very convenient.

On looking at the signatures themselves: John Tolkien's signature is very similar in both. However the suspect Priscilla signature is slightly different: the P is slightly laboured; the two l's are joined; and the k is lost in 'Tolkien'. The red pen is also unusual. And if you follow that this is a fake then I suspect after doing Priscilla's in blue (like the bibliology one) the seller decided that black would be too exact, and having no other colour (that would be likely) did John's in red.

Although in saying all this, often when one appears on eBay, another (genuine auction) follows shortly after.

BH

Well, even without provenance, it eventually finished at £105...

BH

Resurrecting an old topic.
Just would like to add a pic of a Silmarillion copy I just managed to grab, with signatures of Priscilla and John Francis Tolkien (from Oxenmout 1977).

thats a great find Emilien!

Thank you northman !

I managed to get signatures from almost all the Tolkien Family now :

- Christopher Tolkien (x4) (CoH and S&G superdeluxes, CoH 1st US trade edition (signed on bookplate), and a 1st UK Silmarillion (flat signed, A&U employee's copy)
- Priscilla Tolkien (x2) (1st UK Silmarillion, Ashmolean 1976's Drawings by Tolkien booklet)
- John Tolkien (x1) (1st UK Silmarillion)
- Baillie Tolkien (x5) (at Nanterre University, december of last year, CoH, B&L, LFFC UK 1st deluxe editions, Drawings by Tolkien, LFFC 1st UK edition)
- Adam Tolkien (x2) (at BNF exhibition, Exhibition catalog and POME 1st UK edition)

I still miss signatures from Michael Tolkien, and of course, the Professor himself (this one will be very hard to find for me and my wallet... hunting of a lifetime)

Emilien wrote:

Thank you northman !

I managed to get signatures from almost all the Tolkien Family now :

- Christopher Tolkien (x4) (CoH and S&G superdeluxes, CoH 1st US trade edition (signed on bookplate), and a 1st UK Silmarillion (flat signed, A&U employee's copy)
- Priscilla Tolkien (x2) (1st UK Silmarillion, Ashmolean 1976's Drawings by Tolkien booklet)
- John Tolkien (x1) (1st UK Silmarillion)
- Baillie Tolkien (x5) (at Nanterre University, december of last year, CoH, B&L, LFFC UK 1st deluxe editions, Drawings by Tolkien, LFFC 1st UK edition)
- Adam Tolkien (x2) (at BNF exhibition, Exhibition catalog and POME 1st UK edition)

I still miss signatures from Michael Tolkien, and of course, the Professor himself (this one will be very hard to find for me and my wallet... hunting of a lifetime)

You forgot Simon and Royd

Mr. Underhill wrote:

You forgot Simon and Royd

Yes you're right !
Even if, but I might be wrong, I have the feeling they are a bit less connected to Ronald's works