Lesser Rings, with or without Sauron
I know we've touched on this subject in the past. But I'd like to hear from anyone who knows if JRR ever definitively said, or wrote in a letter, about who first created the lesser rings. The text we have to go by does not say, as far as I know and can make out. So I think it comes down to two theories.
Theory One
The Elven smiths of Eregion, Celebrimbor's guild, discover that they can enhance certain abilities or bestow new abilities by putting magic into rings. I suppose they chose rings because they are easy to wear. Sauron, disguised as Annatar hears about these rings, and figures that they could be an "in", a means of gaining control of the Elves. He approaches them and gives that speech about making Middle-earth as beautiful as Valinor, if only they would take up the challenge of making the Great rings, the Rings of Power. The Elves bite, and this time Sauron is right there in the making, his influence going into all sixteen of the first batch of the Rings of Power.
Result: The lesser rings might have been touched by Sauron, but were not created by him. Therefore his influence over them (make them evil) is nil or minimal.
Theory Two
It is Sauron himself who comes up with the idea of rings, and introduces them to the Elves. The Elves are impressed, listen to his speech, and take up the creating of the Rings of Power.
Result: The lesser rings are evil because Sauron was in on their creation, even before the Elves.
I favor the first theory because of the following. In Shadow of the Past, Gandalf is explaining the rings to Frodo. Not to my satisfaction of course, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. He explains that he believed Bilbo's ring to be one of the lesser rings, basically because it is unadorned with any jewel, and all the other rings (Nine and Seven) are accounted for. He tells Frodo that these lesser rings, to his mind, were still dangerous to mortals, but the Great rings were perilous.
Gandalf things lesser rings are dangerous to mortals, but the Great rings were perilous. OK, he has nine Men given Great rings and they turned into Nazgul. That's a strong argument for Men, or Hobbits for that matter, possessing a Great ring. But he still things the lesser rings are dangerous for mortals. Why? Because they were made for immortal beings, and would interfere with their God Given (Eru Given) natural development and possibly fate. But if those rings had been created by Sauron, then Bilbo was on his way to becoming a little Nazgul.
Gandalf said straight out he had no right to take Bilbo's ring away from him. But if it had been a Great ring, created by Sauron, I think he would have overcome his scruples on taking what wasn't his from Bilbo. But with a lesser ring, he compromises. He tells Bilbo and then Frodo to keep the ring, but not to use it. Bilbo resents this, and will on occasion use it, like when avoiding a confrontation with the Sackville-Baggins clan.
But I know of no actual word from JRR which cleared up the matter. And if none exists, I'll have to die and go to heaven and find him and...
Me: "Mr. Tolkien, sir? Hi, I'm one of your biggest fans. Would you mind if I asked you just one little question?"
Tolkien: "They don't have wings."
Me: "What? Oh no, I wasn't asking about if Balrogs have wings or not. You get asked that a lot I'll bet."
Tolkien: "Yes sir I do. All day long, the newly dead fans seek me out and they all describe themselves as my biggest fan, then they ask that question. Sometimes the queue is 30 deep. Anyways, what's your question, if it isn't about Balrogs?"
So, does anyone know for sure if Tolkien ever addressed the lesser rings question? As always, great thoughts welcomed.