A remarkable collection of personal items belonging to JRR Tolkien, including his smoking pipe and first drafts of The Hobbit, is set to be auctioned in Bath on Monday, December 8.
Among the standout lots is a unique briefcase used by Tolkien during his time at Pembroke College, Oxford. This briefcase, inscribed with Tolkien’s initials and college details, is expected to fetch over £10,000. Auctioneer Andrew Stowe describes it as “probably the most important briefcase in modern literature,” as it likely carried Tolkien’s earliest draft of The Hobbit.
Also up for sale is a smoking pipe gifted to Tolkien by his close friend and fellow author C.S. Lewis. Known affectionately as “Tollers” to Lewis, Tolkien’s nickname is engraved on the pipe, which carries an estimate between £8,000 and £12,000. The relationship between Lewis and Tolkien was pivotal to the completion of The Lord of the Rings, making this pipe a deeply significant artifact.
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Further items in the auction include a Viking ship-shaped door knocker from Tolkien’s Oxford home, estimated at £7,000 to £9,000. This piece reflects Tolkien’s fascination with Norse mythology and adds a personal touch to the sale.
Book collectors will be drawn to a rare “true first” edition of Tolkien’s 1937 masterpiece The Hobbit, featuring original black-and-white illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself. This edition, one of only 1,500 printed, is expected to reach £16,000 to £18,000. Also included is the third edition of The Hobbit, complete with its original dust wrapper and signed by Tolkien, with an estimated value above £7,000.
Among the rare manuscripts is a handwritten poem titled “Goblin Feet,” created for Tolkien’s future wife, Edith. This autograph poem, a slightly different version from the published work, is estimated at £10,000 to £15,000. Interestingly, Tolkien presented this personal piece to his Oxford professor and mentor, Joseph Wright.
The collection comprises items passed down through Tolkien’s family, eventually reaching current private collections across the UK. Andrew Stowe highlights the global interest expected for these historically significant pieces, some of which have never been publicly available before.
This auction presents a unique opportunity for Tolkien enthusiasts and collectors to own tangible pieces of literary history from one of the most beloved authors of the 20th century.