Quick one.
Quote:
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It was now nearly lunchtime, and most of the things had already been sold, for various prices from next to nothing to old songs (as is not unusual at auctions).
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Interestingly songs were often handed down in families, & it was considered bad form for anyone else to sing them (see Bob Stewart: 'Where is St George: Pagan Imagery in English Folksong' & UnderWorld Initiation). Tolkien seems to be alluding to this - if a song could be considered personal property it would, in theory, be possible to 'sell' it, or use it to pay for goods.
the other thing that springs to mind is the last scene in the BBC Radio version of TH, where Gandalf & Balin are having a conversation while Bilbo goes to the pantry. Balin points out that Bilbo is writing a book. Gandalf replies "He'll never get a publisher."
