The very desk where J.R.R. Tolkien put the finishing touches to his legendary fantasy masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, is to be sold at auction in London. This remarkable piece of literary history, a mid-Victorian roll-top desk, will go under the hammer at Christie's on 11 December with an estimated value of £50,000 to £80,000.
A Direct Link to Middle-earth's Creation
Experts describe the mahogany and satinwood desk as an extraordinary physical witness to Tolkien's most creative period. He used it extensively during his tenure as the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, a role he held from 1945 to 1959. It was at this desk in his Merton College study that Tolkien handled the crucial correspondence and final proofreading for The Lord of the Rings, making the revisions that shaped the published epic.
Thais Hitchins, a junior specialist at Christie's, emphasised its unique status. "This is the only desk belonging to Tolkien still in private hands," she stated. "It was one of his primary work stations during the period he added the important final touches to his magnum opus and drafted significant academic works like his study of Middle English, Ancrene Wisse."
The Desk's Journey from Oxford Scholar to Novelist
After his time at Merton College, the desk followed Tolkien to his family home on Sandfield Road in Headington, Oxford. Following the author's death, the piece of furniture entered the possession of another literary giant: the acclaimed novelist and philosopher Dame Iris Murdoch. Its provenance, directly linking two of Britain's most revered writers, adds a further layer of significance to the artefact.
The sale forms part of Christie's 'Groundbreakers: Icons Of Our Time' auction, which features several other notable cultural items. These include the sole known annotated proof of Harry Beck's iconic London Underground map, estimated at £70,000–£100,000, and the original artwork for the first edition of Warhammer, which could fetch up to £400,000.
A Landmark Sale for Literary Artefacts
The auction highlights the growing market and immense cultural value attached to items connected to defining works of the 20th century. For collectors and Tolkien enthusiasts worldwide, the desk represents a rare and tangible connection to the author's meticulous creative process. Its sale is anticipated to draw significant international interest, underscoring the enduring global legacy of Tolkien's work and the fascination with the physical objects that accompanied its creation.
Other highlights in the same auction include a set of dye-transfer prints used for the Eagles' iconic Hotel California album artwork, with a guide price of £40,000–£60,000.
