🧙Gandalf's mark

Here’s an extract from Unfinished Tales that might throw some more light into this thread. The passage is from the Appendix to “The Quest of Erebor,” and is from an earlier version of the back story that Gandalf told to Frodo, Gimli, and the rest of the Company in Minas Tirith after the fall of Sauron.

In this passage, Gandalf is with Thorin and the Dwarves at Thorin’s hold in the Blue Mountains, trying to convince them to take Bilbo along with them to Erebor to confront Smaug. (There is quite an elision between the first paragraph and the rest.)

I think it was annoyance with [noparse][Thorin’s][/noparse] haughty disregard of Hobbits that first put into my head the idea of entangling him with them…

“…some of [noparse][the Hobbits’][/noparse] dwellings have fairer things in them than you can boast here, Thorin. The Hobbit that I have in mind has ornaments of gold, and eats with silver tools, and drinks wine out of shapely crystal.”

“Ah! I see your drift at last,” said Balin. “He is a thief, then? That is why you recommend him?”

At that I fear I lost my temper and my caution. This Dwarvish conceit that no one can have or make anything “of value” save themselves, and that all fine things in other hands must have been got, if not stolen, from the Dwarves at some time, was more than I could stand at that moment. “A thief?” I said, laughing. “Why yes, a professional thief, of course! … I will put the thief's mark on his door, and then you will find it.”

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The “thief's mark” might indicate not only a “B” for “Burglar”, but it might also be a reference to the old practice of branding a thief if he were caught. If that’s the case, then only a really bold thief (“Burglar”) living in a truly lawless community would have the brass to post the mark on his door; but then again, it’s Gandalf making the mark, which he also removes by whacking Bilbo’s beautiful green front-door with his staff.

It would also explain why some of the “Burglars” chose to call themselves “Expert Treasure-Hunters” – in a trial, it might be a reasonable defense (or a complete flop), and if successful, enable a defendant avoid branding with a “B” in a prominent spot.

But, yes, The Hobbit is still a children’s tale…

Alcuin said:

In J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator by Hammond and Scull, on page 99, there is a colored pencil drawing by Tolkien entitled “Gandalf”, illustration number 91. The drawing is discussed on page 101, where Hammond and Scull note that “the mark placed by Gandalf on the door … can be read next to the right-hand shrub.” These are the symbols in the mark.

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Great find, thanks.

Alcuin, that is a very interesting series of quotes you have posted from UT. It is clear to me now, Gandalf chose this terminology to describe Bilbo quite simply, to heighten credibility in the eyes of Dwarves thus making his selection inevitable. Eledhwen, your point is succinct, that Bilbo was anxious to escape the term 'burglar' yet the irony is it led to both his acceptance into the party and eventually, his only way to recover his reputation.

Ariana Undomiel said:

Maybe the mark was the elf rune G that Gandalf signed his letter's with and marked his fireworks with.

~Ariana

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this is what i've always assumed, even though there isn't much in the text to prove it. he seems fond of the G rune and uses it often to mark objects or locations of significance