Father Christmas Letters: 1920 - 1924 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-09-2011, 07:26 AM

Introduction

The title of this thread is actually no longer accurate - this book is now known as: Letters from Father Christmas. (Earlier editions had the above title, so among Tolkien readers, it's often still called that.) Various versions have been published, including one that has actual envelopes and separate letters in it. (I looked at that one several years back and decided that it was rather impractical for reading!) I'm not sure if the one I have (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) includes all of the letters that exist - I hope others will contribute if that is not the case. I have the years 1920, then 1923 - 1943. [According to Scull and Hammond, Companion and Guide, there are no existent letters for 1921-22.]

This book is unusual in that it is the only one of JRRT's that is edited by Baillie Tolkien, his daughter-in-law (Christopher's wife). She had worked as Tolkien Sr.'s secretary for awhile, so she was obviously familiar with his work in her own right as well as through her husband. Fortunately, the books contain not only the text of the letters, but also the delightful pictures that Tolkien drew, including the ingenious stamps, replicas of the original letters with their characteristic handwriting, and some of the envelopes. Without those visual impressions, much would be missing!

Let's start with the very first letter. [This thread will progress to include the second and third, as they are all quite brief.]

1920

Tolkien's oldest son John was only three years old when he received the first letter, a relatively short and simple one. It introduces us to Father Christmas' shaky handwriting, supposedly due to the writer's old age, and has a page with two pictures, one of Father Christmas himself and the other of his house.

Please share with us your impressions of this first letter and perhaps tell us which edition of the book you have at hand. I look forward to reading what you have to say!

Lalwendë · 12-09-2011, 08:33 AM

We've got a few different editions, including the one with the little envelopes and letters. Even I'm a bit scared of reading that one. I wonder will the standard paperback be enough? I bought one of those in a remainder book shop for Alfie last Christmas because I thought it was better getting a cheap paperback if it stood any risk of getting jam and chocolate on it - and I'm thinking of maybe reading it to him in the next week or so...whether this means I have time to post owt regularly is another matter...

Kind of looking forwards to him insisting yet again: "Santa does not come down the chimney. He can't!"

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-09-2011, 02:04 PM

I was asked if I will include pictures in this discussion. That's a great idea - I don't know if I will find all of the illustrations online, but whenever possible, I will post them. Here's the picture of Father Christmas and his house that Tolkien drew for the first letter:

This picture of Father Christmas also appears on the cover of my edition and several others.

What details do you find interesting in the pictures?

Lalwendë · 12-09-2011, 05:20 PM

1920 and an image of Father Christmas wearing the familiar red and white outfit. So the next time someone tries to go all 'bah humbug' and tell you that Coca-Cola invented 'Santa', you can show them this picture and tell them that they didn't start using this image of Father Christmas until the 1930s!

I like his pixie hood and that he seems to live in a yurt.

Also, the envelope is also addressed to 'Mrs Tolkien' - would that be because of John being too young to read it himself?

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-09-2011, 11:20 PM

I was wondering about the colour of the outfit. It occurred to me that another Inkling also wrote Father Christmas into one of his stories, so I got out the first Narnia book and looked it up. Lewis also has FC wearing "a bright red robe with a hood that had fur inside it", so there must be some basis for that. Do any Brits know more about the traditional Father Christmas garb?

Thanks for the info concerning the envelope - that one is not pictured in my edition.

His house does look rather exotic, doesn't it?! Those icy pillars surrounding it are like upside-down icicles.

Bêthberry · 12-10-2011, 04:22 AM

What a lovely idea, Estelyn! I don't have a copy of the Christmas letters and haven't read them but I have admired Tolkien's drawings for them--even down to the stamps!

In fact last year I used one of the illustrations for my Christmas avatar, so this year it will be even more apt.

The roundness of Father Christmas' house makes me think of Scandinavian depictions of the figure--it isn't really an Inuit igloo!

Lal, it will be interesting to hear your tyke's thoughts on the letters and drawings!

12-09-2011, 07:26 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Father Christmas Letters: 1920 - 1924 Introduction The title of this thread is actually no longer accurate - this book is now known as: Letters from Father Christmas. (Earlier editions had the above title, so among Tolkien readers, it's often still called that.) Various versions have been published, including one that has actual envelopes and separate letters in it. (I looked at that one several years back and decided that it was rather impractical for reading!) I'm not sure if the one I have (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) includes all of the letters that exist - I hope others will contribute if that is not the case. I have the years 1920, then 1923 - 1943. [According to Scull and Hammond, Companion and Guide, there are no existent letters for 1921-22.] This book is unusual in that it is the only one of JRRT's that is edited by Baillie Tolkien, his daughter-in-law (Christopher's wife). She had worked as Tolkien Sr.'s secretary for awhile, so she was obviously familiar with his work in her own right as well as through her husband. Fortunately, the books contain not only the text of the letters, but also the delightful pictures that Tolkien drew, including the ingenious stamps, replicas of the original letters with their characteristic handwriting, and some of the envelopes. Without those visual impressions, much would be missing! Let's start with the very first letter. [This thread will progress to include the second and third, as they are all quite brief.] 1920 Tolkien's oldest son John was only three years old when he received the first letter, a relatively short and simple one. It introduces us to Father Christmas' shaky handwriting, supposedly due to the writer's old age, and has a page with two pictures, one of Father Christmas himself and the other of his house. Please share with us your impressions of this first letter and perhaps tell us which edition of the book you have at hand. I look forward to reading what you have to say! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

12-09-2011, 08:33 AM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	We've got a few different editions, including the one with the little envelopes and letters. Even I'm a bit scared of reading that one. I wonder will the standard paperback be enough? I bought one of those in a remainder book shop for Alfie last Christmas because I thought it was better getting a cheap paperback if it stood any risk of getting jam and chocolate on it - and I'm thinking of maybe reading it to him in the next week or so...whether this means I have time to post owt regularly is another matter... Kind of looking forwards to him insisting yet again: "Santa does not come down the chimney. He can't!" __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-09-2011, 02:04 PM	#3
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I was asked if I will include pictures in this discussion. That's a great idea - I don't know if I will find all of the illustrations online, but whenever possible, I will post them. Here's the picture of Father Christmas and his house that Tolkien drew for the first letter: This picture of Father Christmas also appears on the cover of my edition and several others. What details do you find interesting in the pictures? __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

12-09-2011, 05:20 PM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	1920 and an image of Father Christmas wearing the familiar red and white outfit. So the next time someone tries to go all 'bah humbug' and tell you that Coca-Cola invented 'Santa', you can show them this picture and tell them that they didn't start using this image of Father Christmas until the 1930s! I like his pixie hood and that he seems to live in a yurt. Also, the envelope is also addressed to 'Mrs Tolkien' - would that be because of John being too young to read it himself? __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-09-2011, 11:20 PM	#5
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I was wondering about the colour of the outfit. It occurred to me that another Inkling also wrote Father Christmas into one of his stories, so I got out the first Narnia book and looked it up. Lewis also has FC wearing "a bright red robe with a hood that had fur inside it", so there must be some basis for that. Do any Brits know more about the traditional Father Christmas garb? Thanks for the info concerning the envelope - that one is not pictured in my edition. His house does look rather exotic, doesn't it?! Those icy pillars surrounding it are like upside-down icicles. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

12-10-2011, 04:22 AM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	What a lovely idea, Estelyn! I don't have a copy of the Christmas letters and haven't read them but I have admired Tolkien's drawings for them--even down to the stamps! In fact last year I used one of the illustrations for my Christmas avatar, so this year it will be even more apt. The roundness of Father Christmas' house makes me think of Scandinavian depictions of the figure--it isn't really an Inuit igloo! Lal, it will be interesting to hear your tyke's thoughts on the letters and drawings! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

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