• RR Auction #473

• April 2016

• https://www.rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3352982

• Final price including buyer's premium: $2,971.85

TLS, one page, 6 x 9, personal letterhead, no date but postmarked May 1, 1972. Letter to Miss Donna Sadlier, in full: “It was most kind of you to write to me and please do not feel ashamed. As Miss Hall explained, I receive every day of the week, from all parts of the world, requests for autographs; because these requests are so numerous I really have to restrict autographs to family and friends. When you wrote originally, Miss Hill quite rightly told you that my wife had just died, and I am very touched by your kind card. It was so thoughtful of you and I am very grateful.” Tolkien adds a brief postscript, hand writing the first word: “So I send you a little autograph slip to put in a copy of my work.” A horizontal fold passing through the signature, toning to the top, a tiny edge tear and piece of tape to the left edge, and surface loss and small tears to corners from mounting, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Tolkien’s wife Edith, who had served as the inspiration for the elvish character Luthien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, had passed away in November 1971.