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J. R. R. Tolkien. Autograph Letter Signed "J. R. R. Tolkien," regarding the history of Tolkien's own name and his inspiration ...
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Description
J. R. R. Tolkien. Autograph Letter Signed "J. R. R. Tolkien," regarding the history of Tolkien's own name and his inspiration for Lord of the Rings. Oxford: April 12, 1956. Two pages on one leaf, measuring 5.25 x 6.25 inches. "76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford" letterhead. Lightly creased along old folds, a few spots of light soiling.Written shortly after the publication of his new trilogy, Tolkien's letter comprises a thoughtful reply to a fan, Mr. Earle, who evidently was so excited that he wrote before he had even finished the series! The reply touches on some of Tolkien's inspirations for Lord of the Rings, steeped in his own academic scholarship and personal interests, and a brief history of the name "Tolkien." Tolkien's letter reads, in full:
"Dear Mr. Earle, Thank you for your kind and appreciative letter. I hope to retain your approbation to the end of the work. It's not consciously based on anything but a complete 'invention,' like the supposed Elvish languages. But there is no 'invention' in the void , and naturally in digested form I am indebted to the myths and legends of literature. But not specially to those of England and Wales (for Gaelic of Ireland and Scotland I have no great liking). Of ancient A. S. English or Welsh 'myths' alas nothing remains, and of ancient legends very little. My name's German in origin, though in this anglicized form it has been in England some 200 years (and has emigrated to America); but it remains very unusual. It's a form of the German word toll-kühn and should properly be spelt Tol(l)kiehn. The correct pronunciation is therefore Tolkeen, with the accent on the 'o' (as in doll). Yours sincerely, J. R. R. Tolkien."
A description of this letter reportedly appears in Scull and Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide, Volume I.
*Note: The above transcription has been updated, corrections in bold.
Auction Info
2022 July 27 - 28 Rare Books Signature® Auction #6253 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2022
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