THE FATHER CHRISTMAS LETTERS

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original laminated illustrated boards. Illustrated with colour reproductions of Tolkien's drawings and manuscript letters throughout. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping and minor scuffing to the extremities, the boards bright and fresh. The contents, with some faint spotting to the prelims, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps.

A lovely collection of the illustrated Christmas letters created by J. R. R. Tolkien for his children over a period of 25 years starting in 1920. It has been suggested that elements from the Father Christmas stories may have influenced The Lord of the Rings. The first edition was published in September 1976, in an edition of 50,000 copies. (Hammond & Anderson A13a).