Letter to Miss Turnbull (19 May 1955)
Miss Turnbull 19 May 1955 is a letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to a Miss Turnbull in Whitby, Yorkshire. The letter was written on May 19th, 1955.
- Description: Octavo, two pages, on one leaf with printed letterhead (76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford). With the original envelope addressed in his hand; folded once across the centre to fit the envelope.[1]
- Authenticity: High (included in The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Chronology)
- Publication: None
Contents (from the bookseller)
Tolkien thanks Miss Turnbull for her 'munificent and magnificent gift' (apparently champagne), apologises profusely for the tardy response [the gift having arrived two days earlier!!!] and discusses what was presumably the cause for celebration - clearing his desk of 'The Return of the King'. 'Though sending off the last items [with a marginal comment 'and at last'] for Vol III might have seemed a suitable occasion for the withdrawing of at least one cork, I have so far refrained; but when I drink I shall remember with a gratitude at least as warm and deep as Old Rory felt for the bottles of Old Winyards. I can only hope Vol III will be up to it!' The literary and cinematic world certainly think it is ..
References
- ↑ Michael Treloar Antiquarian (Adelaide, SA, Australia), as of June 25, 2010
- ↑ AbeBooks.com as of June 25, 2010. The editors of AbeBooks had failed to include the full description of the letter (which ends abruptly with "...occasion for the wi". However, a private correspondance with Michael Treloar Antiquarian revealed the full letter description, as presented above.