Calligraphic autograph quotation signed and in Tolkien's hand: "In all my works I take the part of the trees as against all their enemies." Black ink on white Basildon Bond writing paper, 3 3/4 x 7 inches (9.5 x 17.5 cm), verso blank. Tipped to card mount, framed.

This quotation, slightly Entish in its theme, was part of Tolkien's letter 339, written to the Editor of The Daily Telegraph on 30th June, 1972. It was prepared in response to a leader article in that newspaper, in which it was stated that the works of the Forestry Commission had resulted in: "Sheepwalks where you could once ramble for miles are transformed into a kind of Tolkien gloom, where no bird sings..." Not unnaturally, Tolkien reacted mildly negatively to this sentiment, writing that "it is unfair to use my name as an adjective qualifying 'gloom.'" In this witty and thoughtful letter, he ended the first paragraph with the quotation above, and went on to defend the Commission (to a degree), writing that "It would be unfair to compare the Forestry Commission with Sauron because, as you observe, it is capable of repentance..." Previously with Harmer-Rooke. See https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Letter_339