Father Christmas Letters: 1931

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This is the longest letter so far! Three pictures are included, the first one a portrait of Father Christmas that graces the cover of the old FCL books. (The stamps are not part of the 1931 drawing.)



The first letter is dated October 31st and again acknowledges the children's letters to FC. The main letter is dated December 23rd and is two pages long. The presents are announced (mostly for Railways) but there is a warning that not everything that was wished for is included. The reason for this is that there are so many poor and starving people - do you think it refers to the Great Depression, which was around that time? Was England affected as much as the USA was?

There is a reference to FC's "Green Brother" again - does anyone have an idea to whom JRRT is referring?

This year's accident involves the North Polar Bear, though it is not directly caused by him - the Snowboys are responsible for an explosion of fireworks. The top of Tolkien's two part drawing shows that:



Two of the NPB's nephews have stayed, and they are named Paksu and Valkotukka, Finnish for 'fat' and 'white-hair'.

The most unusual part of this Christmas letter is a drawing "by" the NPB Karhu. It has a very distinctive style, involving lines and dashes - a bit like Tolkien's drawing of the Troll scene in the Hobbit.



(The spotty background of this image is not part of Tolkien's drawing.)

How do you like the 1931 letter/s? I'm glad the book reproduces the original pages, as the calligraphy is beautiful, all in red and green ink.