Tolkien, J.R.R.

8vo (190 x 130mm.), PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("K.M. Kilbride | with greetings | from | J.R.R. Tolkien.") TOGETHER WITH FOUR LINES IN ELVISH on preliminary blank, FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE ("Dodgeson" corrected in ink on lower inside flap of the dust-jacket), 10 illustrations and pictorial end-papers in red and black by the author, 2pp. of publisher's advertisements at end, original green pictorial cloth, PICTORIAL DUST-JACKET BY THE AUTHOR, collector's chemise and slipcase, tiny spot on title-page, minor browning and a few marks to free endpapers, minor tear to foot of lower hinge, spine slightly soiled, head and foot of spine very slightly bumped

Miss Katherine ("Kitty") Kilbride (1900-1966) (inscription); sale at Sotheby's New York, 13 December 2002, lot 152

Hammond A3(a)

This is a remarkable copy. It is extremely rare to find a copy with such fine provenance in such fine condition. Internally, the copy is excellent with some very minor paper blemishes consistent with age. There is a tiny spot of soiling on the title-page. The binding is tight. The head and foot of the spine are very slightly bumped, as are some corners. There is some very minor browning together with slight marks to the endpapers, and an extremely minor tear at the foot of the lower hinge. The edges of the book show some very slight spotting, consistent with age. The cloth binding reveals a few examples of soiling, consistent with contact with the dust-jacket for almost eighty years. The dust-jacket is one of the most remarkable examples seen. It is unrestored and in an impressive state of preservation. There is only some extremely light wear along the upper edge and two small examples of spotting to the peaks of the mountain on the lower panel. The spine is very slightly darkened.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

ONE OF A HANDFUL OF PRESENTATION COPIES INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ON PUBLICATION, OFFERED HERE IN AN EXCEPTIONAL DUST-JACKET.

Within a set of page proofs of The Hobbit, Tolkien wrote a list of family members, colleagues, friends and students to whom he wished to present copies of the book (see Appendix V within John D. Rateliff's second edition of his The History of The Hobbit, published in 2011). Intended recipients were E.V. Gordon; C.S. Lewis; Elaine Griffiths; K.M. Kilbride; Marjorie Incledon; Mary Incledon; R.W. Chambers; Aileen and Elizabeth Jennings; Mabel Mitton ("Aunt Mabel"); Florence Hadley ("Aunt Florence"); C.L. Wrenn; Simone d’Ardenne; Helen Buckhurst; Jane Neave; "Rattenbury" (thought by Rateliff to be R.M. Rattenbury, a lecturer in Classics at the University of Leeds); "Livesleys" (possibly the couple who ran a guest house in Sidmouth); A.H. Smith; Jennie Grove; Stella Mills; W.R. Childe; George S. Gordon; and Hilary Tolkien. Rateliff notes that copies were also to go to the Oxford Magazine and the "Book Soc."

The recipient of this copy was Miss Katherine ("Kitty") Kilbride (1900-1966) who had been one of Tolkien's first students at Leeds University in the 1920s. Kitty Kilbride was, recalled her nephew, "...an invalid all her life and was much cheered by his [Tolkien's] chatty letters and cards. ...books were given to her as they were published". Her set of The Lord of the Rings (inscribed to "C.M. Kilbride") was sold in these rooms 19 July 1982, lot 315 and, later, Sotheby's New York, 10-11 December 1993, lot 581. An autograph postcard to her, dated 24 December 1926, was sold at Bonham's, 12 June 2012, lot 150. Kilbride's letter of acknowledgement for the present volume is preserved in the Tolkien papers in the Bodleian Library (MS.Tolkien 21, f.66). She notes "what fun you must have had drawing out the maps".

Rateliff identifies the Elvish verse as an extract from Tolkien's The Lost Road (see J.R.R. Tolkien, The History of Middle Earth, Vol. 5) published in 1987.