The Christopher Robin Birthday Book, Priscilla Tolkien’s copy with names of family members and friends filled in.; Decorated by E.H. Shepard
London: Methuern & Co., 1934. E. H. Shepard. Third Edition. 12mo, 6 3/8 x 4 5/8 inches (158 x 120 mm); pp. vii + 215; original bright red cloth, gilt titling on front and spine, gilt illustration of Christopher Robin fishing, spine faded, endpapers yellowed, no dust jacket; overall the book is bright and clean condition. With an introduction by A.A. Milne and charmingly illustrated by Shepard. The book is designed with two dates per page and space to inscribe names; each page has a quotation chosen by A.A. Milne from 'When We Were Very Young', 'Winnie-The-Pooh', 'Now We Are Six', and 'The House at Pooh Corner', and accompanied by illustrations by E.H. Shepard
** Penned inscription on the FEP reads "P.M.R. Tolkien", Milne's last child and only daughter Priscilla Mary Anne Reuel Tolkien (born 18 June 1929); Blackwell's book label to pastedown "B.H. Blackwell Ltd. Booksellers, 50 and 51 Broad Street, Oxford."
[Haring-Smith C113].
A charming piece of Tolkieniana. The 65 names filled in by the young Priscilla Tolkien—the last surviving of the four Tolkien children—include 'Daddy' on 3rd January, 'Mummy' on 21st January, her brothers Christopher, Michael and John Tolkien on their respective birthdays, Phoebe Coles (the Tolkiens' housekeeper), Australian novelist Joan (Lady) Lindsay, poet Elizabeth Jennings, and various other relatives, friends and figures in the Oxford social circle.
The book was purchased at the famed Oxford bookshop B.H. Blackwells which opened in 1879 on Broad Street, and has been in continuous operation since then.
In the years of Priscilla's childhood and when she probably received this book and wrote in the names, her father was Professor of Anglo-Saxon and English Literature at Oxford University, translated 'Beowulf' (published posthumously) and was also tapped by the British Government for his linguistic prowess as a cryptographer in the period leading up to the Second World War. The Tolkien children were very involved in the process of J.R.R. Tolkien's writings and the development of his high fantasy literature: they named some of the characters, transcribed texts, and published posthumous books based on their father's extensive notes. Priscilla and John catalogued the large collection of family photographs and in 1992 issued the book 'The Tolkien Family Album' to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of their father.
"As Eeyore says, What are birthdays? Here to-day and gone tomorrow." So let us make a note of them while we can." (from the introduction by A.A. Milne).
Condition: Near fine.
Item number: 310
Price: $9,500.00
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