Letter to Jane Neave (22 September 1937): Difference between revisions

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'''Jane Neave 22 September 1937''' is a [[Letters not published in "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien"|letter]] from [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] to [[Jane Neave]], written on [[22 September]], [[1937]].<ref>{{CG|C}}, p. 201</ref>
[[File:Jane Neave 22 September 1937.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from the Antiques Roadshow episode showing the full letter]]
On [[22 September]] [[1937]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] wrote '''[[Letters not published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien|a letter]] to [[Jane Neave]]'''.<ref>{{CG|C}}, p. 201</ref>
*'''Subject:''' Tolkien intends to send her a copy of ''[[The Hobbit]]''. Personal greetings.
*'''Subject:''' Tolkien intends to send her a copy of ''[[The Hobbit]]''. Personal greetings.
*'''Publication:''' A few short quotes from the letter and the opening is reproduced in a photograph in ''[[Sotheby's English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press Books, Children's Books, Illustrated Books and Drawings 10 July 2003]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details.php?reference=72370|articlename=English Literature and History. 2003|dated=|website=TB|accessed=23 January 2012}}</ref>
*'''Publication:''' The letter first appeared in an episode of the [[BBC]]'s [[Antiques Roadshow]].<ref name=Antiques>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5fr9NfFd_0&ab_channel=BBCStudios A super rare copy of The Hobbit! | Antiques Roadshow | BBC Studios] at [http://www.youtube.com/ YouTube] (accessed 16 December 2022)</ref> The opening was reproduced as a picture in ''[[Sotheby's English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press Books, Children's Books, Illustrated Books and Drawings 10 July 2003]]''.<ref>
{{References}}
{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tolkienbooks.net/php/details.php?reference=72370|articlename=English Literature and History. 2003|dated=|website=TB|accessed=23 January 2012}}</ref> A short summary of the letter is included in ''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide]]''.
[[Category:Letters]]
==Transcription==
{{blockquote|Sept 22. 1937<br>
My dearest Jane
<br>
Here's a copy of my little book which I send you with much love; I hope it will amuse you. It arrived yesterday, and is now at last 'published'. We are <u>all</u> so much looking forward to your coming again this winter. It was not like Christmas without you. I have bought another second-hand car partly with money already brought in by "The Hobbit". It is quieter, quicker, and very much steadier and less bumpy, so [?now] I think I shall come and fetch you this time, and bring you safe and unshaken direct from door to door.<br>
I hope you are better,<br>
Your loving
Ronald.}}
 
==History==
Tolkien temporarily lost the letter and ended up sending his [[Jane Neave|aunt Jane]] another copy of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' with another letter dated [[October 6]]. He eventually found the original letter and kept it in his collection.<ref>[[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] ([[2017]]), ''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide]]'': I. Chronology, p. 205-6</ref> The letter was stuck to the front page of the book with tape and was passed on to [[Simon Tolkien]] after Tolkien's death.<ref name=Antiques></ref> The book was featured in an episode of [[Antiques Roadshow]] aired in 1990 (series 12 or 13), brought by Simon's wife Tracy Steinberg.<ref name=Antiques/> The book was afterwards sold together with the letter in 2003. <ref> [[Sotheby's English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press Books, Children's Books, Illustrated Books and Drawings 10 July 2003]] </ref> <ref> [https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2003/the-hobbit-reaches-40-000-at-sothebys/ The Hobbit reaches £40,000 at Sotheby's] on antiquetradegazette.com (accessed 7 April 2024)</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[Letter to Jane Neave (15 November 1961)]]
 
==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5fr9NfFd_0&ab_channel=BBCStudios A super rare copy of The Hobbit! | Antiques Roadshow | BBC Studios] on ''YouTube''
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ6RJ-fxKA8 Most Expensive Book Ever On Antiques Roadshow ❦ The Hobbit (1937)] by Tom Ayling on ''YouTube''
 
{{references}}
{{title}}
[[Category:Letters|Neave, Jane (1937-09-22)]]

Latest revision as of 19:18, 7 April 2024

Screenshot from the Antiques Roadshow episode showing the full letter

On 22 September 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to Jane Neave.[1]

Transcription[edit | edit source]

Sept 22. 1937

My dearest Jane
Here's a copy of my little book which I send you with much love; I hope it will amuse you. It arrived yesterday, and is now at last 'published'. We are all so much looking forward to your coming again this winter. It was not like Christmas without you. I have bought another second-hand car partly with money already brought in by "The Hobbit". It is quieter, quicker, and very much steadier and less bumpy, so [?now] I think I shall come and fetch you this time, and bring you safe and unshaken direct from door to door.
I hope you are better,
Your loving

Ronald.

History[edit | edit source]

Tolkien temporarily lost the letter and ended up sending his aunt Jane another copy of The Hobbit with another letter dated October 6. He eventually found the original letter and kept it in his collection.[4] The letter was stuck to the front page of the book with tape and was passed on to Simon Tolkien after Tolkien's death.[2] The book was featured in an episode of Antiques Roadshow aired in 1990 (series 12 or 13), brought by Simon's wife Tracy Steinberg.[2] The book was afterwards sold together with the letter in 2003. [5] [6]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 201
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 A super rare copy of The Hobbit! | Antiques Roadshow | BBC Studios at YouTube (accessed 16 December 2022)
  3. ↑ "English Literature and History. 2003", TolkienBooks.net (accessed 23 January 2012)
  4. ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2017), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 205-6
  5. ↑ Sotheby's English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press Books, Children's Books, Illustrated Books and Drawings 10 July 2003
  6. ↑ The Hobbit reaches £40,000 at Sotheby's on antiquetradegazette.com (accessed 7 April 2024)
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