Not that this matters to you - because it never does.
But a five second google search already provides, and answers, this exact question without even having to click on any webpages. "How many books did Tolkien sell before the movies." Is a question listed twice in the google-search before you need to click on anything.
Yes, you are correct, Tolkien wrote to others about his books not taking off - AT FIRST. But once the 60s hit, it became a cultural phenomenon. And in the 50 years between publication and 1999 it sold 100 million copies - even if it was a 'slow start'.
MOST READ NOVEL OF THE 20th CENTURY!Before the movies were made, The Lord of the Rings was the most-read novel of the 20th century. It sold over 100 million copies before the movies were made.
In addition there's a whole page of stats about this:
https://wordsrated.com/lord-of-the-rings-stats/
Which includes statements such as:
"The Lord of the Rings was voted book of the 20th century by Waterstones customers in the UK" - That was BEFORE the movies, 20th century ended in 1999.
"The Lord of the Rings series is one of the best-selling book series of all time having sold approximately 150 million books around the world."
"It was also named the nation’s best-loved novel by the BBC in their “The Big Read” poll of the British public"
Again - BEST SELLING BOOK SERIES OF ALL TIME. If 50 million, as you Kenn, claims is post the movies - then math says 100 million before the movies. That's how math works. And look, several sites here are saying 100 million before the first movie.
But sure, keep telling yourself that Tolkien meant nothing to the world until Peter Jackson. I just hope the people in this thread get that real world truth matters not at all to you and just ignore you. Keep claiming that the MOST READ BOOK OF THE ENTIRE CENTURY "was nothing at all" before the movies. And keep sounding like an idiot - that's your right.
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He won't - he never does. Just give up trying to argue, even with actual posted stats, against this guy. It never works. It never has.