Valuable Autograph Letters, Literary Manuscripts and Historical Documents

Notes
This catalogue includes several letters from Tolkien to Naomi Mitchison:

Lot 363 (p.181) – A two page letter dated 18 December 1949. Here Tolkien discusses the completion of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, deficiencies in the production of The Hobbit, anachronisms in Farmer Giles of Ham, dragons and languages. Identical extracts were printed in Autograph Letters and different extracts were printed in Printed Books, Manuscripts and Music (1986).

Lot 364 (p.181) – A seven page letter dated 25 April 1954. Tolkien discusses his invented languages and other aspects of The Lord of the Rings.

Lot 365 (p.182) – A six page letter dated 25 September 1954. Tolkien thanks Mitchison for her review of The Lord of the Rings and discusses the book. The final page of the letter is reproduced.

Lot 366 (p.182) – A two page letter dated 29 June 1955. Tolkien discusses the publication of The Return of the King.

Lot 367 (p.183) – A four page letter dated 8 December 1955. Tolkien expresses his disappointment at the dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings for radio, mentions various distractions, and enquires about reception of her book To The Chapel Perilous. [Tolkien had declined to supply A&U with positive comments for the jacket blurb.]

Lot 368 (p.183) – A two page letter dated 15 October 1959. Tolkien on retirement from academic life.

The letters above are reprinted in more extensive form in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (1981).

Lot 369 (p.183) – A two page letter dated 8 November 1959. Tolkien regrets not being able to meet Mitchison. Not included in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (1981).