Letter to Miss Turnbull (19 May 1955)

From Tolkien Gateway
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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 ..[2]

References

  1. Michael Treloar Antiquarian (Adelaide, SA, Australia), as of June 25, 2010
  2. 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 "a suitable occasion for the wi". However, a private correspondance with Michael Treloar Antiquarian revealed the full letter description, as presented above.