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JRR Tolkien’s fireplace attracts £50k bid on eBay (From Bournemouth Echo)
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JRR Tolkien’s fireplace attracts £50k bid on eBay
5:30pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News By Jim Durkin
SELLING: Stephen Malton, pictured with items from JRR Tolkien’s now demolished bungalow in Poole has put some of them up for auction on eBay
A FIREPLACE from the Poole home of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien has attracted a £50,000 bid days after being listed on eBay.
It is one of a number of items, discovered during the demolition of the writer’s bungalow, being sold off in an online auction expected make more than £75,000.
Stephen Malton, proprietor of Bournemouth-based Prodem Demolition, made a number of Tolkien finds during the demolition of 19 Lakeside Road in 2008.
Some of the items have already been sold after attracting worldwide interest. What remains has been put onto eBay to coincide with the launch of the new Hobbit film.
One of the more interesting memorabilia up for grabs is a 40-year-old postcard addressed to the author, valued at £795.
Mr Malton said: “The card is dated 1968 and addressed to Tolkien at the Miramar Hotel, Bournemouth.
“We’ve sold some items, including a pair of lion heads that went to a private collector and I regularly get enquiries from Tolkien fans.”
The postcard depicts a scene from Cork, Ireland, and the message mentions the countryside and seascapes but adds: “I hope everything has gone as well as could be expected in the most difficult circumstances.”
It is signed “Lin”, which could be fellow fantasy author Lin Carter, who wrote A Look Behind the Lord of the Rings.
Other items in the online sale are a stone griffin, ornate doors from the author’s bedroom and a cast-iron fairy holding a clam shell.
The Tolkien estate has been notified of the sale, says Mr Malton. He added: “We’ve put on an exhibition in Wimborne and all the items went across to the Hobbit pub in Southampton where they were displayed as well.”
The pub is fighting US movie lawyers over the continued use of the Hobbit name.
“Money raised went towards fighting the studios,” said Mr Malton.
Tolkien retired to Poole with his wife Edith in 1968 after The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy had already made him famous.
Comments(8)
twynham
says...
7:00pm Thu 3 Jan 13
sussexcherry wrote:No sign of it for sale or having been sold on eBay!
I have searched ebay and can't find it, did anyone from the OHEC do their research or is there something wrong with this "story"?
Fantasy Fiction?
BBC Escapee
says...
10:40pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Tolkien only lived there from 1968 until his wife died in 1971 some forty odd years ago and its said that he didn't even like living there!
Interesting article but seemingly old news!
jobsworthwatch
says...
9:03am Fri 4 Jan 13
Odd that the town has never been able to capitalise on its association with such famous visitors.
The only way tourists to Bournemouth are likely to learn of this claim to fame by the town is to visit The Moon in the Square!
Ian_Steel
says...
10:34am Fri 4 Jan 13
jobsworthwatch wrote:There is not enough recognition of famous writers who have graced Dorset with their presence.
The two most famous horror stories ever written are associated with this town, 'Jekyll and Hyde' and 'Frankenstein'. RLS lived here and Mary Shelly is buried here. JRT was a regular visitor to the Miramar Hotel where he would have an additional room for writing.
Odd that the town has never been able to capitalise on its association with such famous visitors.
The only way tourists to Bournemouth are likely to learn of this claim to fame by the town is to visit The Moon in the Square!
For those who think that Dorset only has the writers named above and Hardy linked to it there are others:
Mervyn Peake, Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton, John Cowper Powys, T.F. Powys and Llewelyn Powys. Douglas Adams, William Barnes, Darwin and John le Carré and John Fowles.
speedy231278
says...
11:53am Fri 4 Jan 13
jobsworthwatch
says...
1:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Ian_Steel wrote:...and Flora Thompson.
jobsworthwatch wrote:There is not enough recognition of famous writers who have graced Dorset with their presence.
The two most famous horror stories ever written are associated with this town, 'Jekyll and Hyde' and 'Frankenstein'. RLS lived here and Mary Shelly is buried here. JRT was a regular visitor to the Miramar Hotel where he would have an additional room for writing.
Odd that the town has never been able to capitalise on its association with such famous visitors.
The only way tourists to Bournemouth are likely to learn of this claim to fame by the town is to visit The Moon in the Square!
For those who think that Dorset only has the writers named above and Hardy linked to it there are others:
Mervyn Peake, Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton, John Cowper Powys, T.F. Powys and Llewelyn Powys. Douglas Adams, William Barnes, Darwin and John le Carré and John Fowles.
Trotter99
says...
9:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Mr Malton has a lot of inquires from Tolkien fans about provenance (showing proof that these items are linked to Tolkien), but so far has failed to provide any for the items that he is selling.
The postcard (no idea where the £795 came from) is also not from Lin Carter, and it refers to an incident where Tolkien broke his leg in Oxford before moving to Lakeside Road.
You will also see in the picture a sign stating Woodridings, I have not seen any evidence that Tolkien used this in his address when living at the bungalow.
sussexcherry says...
6:33pm Thu 3 Jan 13