TOLKIEN (J.R.R.) [The Lord of the Rings:] The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King, all revised second edition, fifth impression, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPIES, EACH INSCRIBED ON HALF-TITLES 'signed for Michael Dobson' (in 'The Two Towers' 'Tolkien' neatly crossed out and replaced with 'Dobson'), folding map at end of each volume, tape stains on endpapers (probably from old dust-jacket covers), publisher's red cloth (spine ends bumped), dust-jackets (clipped, 20mm. mark on spine of 'The Two Towers', edges and spine ends a little bumped), 8vo, George Allen and Unwin, 1970 Footnotes: A SET OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY INSCRIBED BY THE DISTRACTED TOLKIEN FOR HIS NEIGHBOURS' NEPHEW. The three volumes were inscribed by Tolkien as a special favour for his neighbours, with whom the author was on friendly terms during the years he spent living in Poole. Having purchased the trilogy as a birthday gift for their nephew, Michael Dobson, they asked Tolkien to sign them for him, and he graciously agreed. Tolkien and his wife Edith had moved to Branksome, Poole in 1968, to escape the intrusions caused by his growing fame in Oxford following his retirement. They lived there until Edith's death in November 1971, after which Tolkien moved back to Oxford in March 1972. All three volumes, revised editions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, bear presentation inscriptions in the author's hand. Particularly poignant is the inscription in The Two Towers, where Tolkien begins to write his own surname in place of the recipient's, catching the error and striking it through neatly before completing the inscription with the correct surname 'Dobson'. Provenance: Michael Dobson, gift inscriptions on endpapers 'From Auntie Win and Uncle Bert, 1971', and thence by descent. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing