Unveiling the Letters: Letter no. 112 and the Runes

In Letter no. 112 (on 30 November 1947 to Katherine Farrer), J.R.R. introduced text in Runes.

Text as a postcard, is written in Futhorc (not in Cirth), which are Old English (Anglo-Saxon) runes used by the author in The Hobbit. At that time, original runic writing system (Cirth) used in The Lord of the Rings is not deviced yet.


The text is a modern English, but display the use of Westron of Third Age.

Runic text:

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, letter 112
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, runes from letter 112

Westron translation:

þree manor road

sunday noveber

þe þirtieþ


dear mrs farrer: of course i will sign yo

ur copy of þe hobbit. i am honoured by þe

recwest. it is good news þat þe book is obtain

able again. þe next book will cotain more d

etailed information about runes and oþer

alfabets in respose to many encwiries. in

þe meantime while þe great work is beiŋ finiš

ed i wonder if you would like a proper

key to þe special dwarviš adaptation

of þe eŋliš runic alfabet only part of

which appears in þe hobbit includiŋ þe cover.

we enioyed last monday eveniŋ very mu

ch and hope for a return match soon.

yours sincerely

i r r tolkien

Modern English translation:

Three Manor Road

Sunday Nove[m]ber the Thirtieth

Dear Mrs. Farrer: Of course I will sign your copy of the Hobbit. I am honoured by the request. It is good news that the book is obtainable again.

The next book will co[n]tain more detailed information about runes and other alphabets in respo[n]se to many enquiries. In the meantime while the great work is being finished I wonder if you would like a proper key to the special dwarvish adaptation of the English runic alphabet only part of which appears in the Hobbit including the cover.

We enjoyed last Monday evening very much and hope for a return match soon.

Your sincerely

J. R. R. Tolkien
___________________________________________________________________________________

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