BBC Antiques Roadshow April 2nd Tolkien letters

[saulfan]

If you're interested, one of the particpants in the BBC Antiques Roadshow programme broadcast yesterday evening (April 2nd 2017) brought in for appraisal/valuation two handwritten letters from Tolkien and a couple of cards.

These had been her father's from the time when he had written as a fan asking Tolkien certain questions about characters events etc.,

In one of the letters (eight pages long), Tolkien clearly cross-referenced various items by way of explanation/clarification.

The resident 'expert' on the programme stated that the letters were of the 'highest importance' - I can't recall the actual value he placed on them.

The programme should still be available on the BBC iPlayer.

Best Wishes,
David

 

[Extollager]

Many thanks for the tip, Saulfan!

 

[HareBrain]

I'll give this a look later. Can you remember roughly at what point in the programme the letters came?

 

[saulfan]

I'll give this a look later. Can you remember roughly at what point in the programme the letters came?

Not exactly but certainly not in the first few items. Maybe 15-20 minutes in?

Hope that helps.

Best Wishes,
David

 

[HareBrain]

Thanks David. Here's the link for other (possibly UK-only) members:

Antiques Roadshow, Series 39: 16. BBC Caversham Park 1

Starts at 14:30, lasts for three minutes.

 

[Dave]

I saw this but I wanted to add that they also had a Tolkien "self-published" manuscript on the previous week's episode too. It was some kind of printing exercise by students of the University of Leeds. That also lasted only a few minutes from 49.42. "Songs for Philologists"
Antiques Roadshow, Series 39: 15. Burton Constable 1

 

[Pyan]

It's possible that these are 'uncollected' letters, as well - AFAIK they're not in the published 'Letters of JRR Tolkien' ed. Carpenter/Tolkien. Not all the known letters are in there, however, but he didn't always keep copies or a record of his correspondence.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

The value was sky-high because he'd explained a lot of things in the 8-page letter. It was a bit of a jaw-dropper.

 

[Allegra]

Tolkien's Santa letter to his children - BBC News