1937

4 January 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Susan Dagnall

#9

 Carpenter #9

Tolkien details work he has recently completed on maps for The Hobbit, as well as other suggestions. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull note that ther...

13 April 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin Ltd.

#12

 Carpenter #12

Concerning Tolkien's corrections to the text of The Hobbit, the cost of those corrections, and who would incur that cost, as well as details of his...

13 May 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth

#13

 Carpenter #13

This two-page handwritten letter contains some of Tolkien's thoughts on the potential publication of The Hobbit in the USA. Tolkien can make illust...

28 May 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin Ltd.

#14

 Carpenter #14

In this three-page handwritten letter, Tolkien writes to his publisher about the release date for The Hobbit, going on at length about how it would be b...

31 August 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth (Allen & Unwin)

#15

 Carpenter #15

Tolkien sends the last two colour drawings for the American edition of The Hobbit and asks GA&U to send it on to Houghton Mifflin. he also asks about a ...

11 October 1937

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1987

Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien telling him that The Hobbit is selling well, and had good reviews in the Times Literary Supplement and The Times itself....

15 October 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#19

 Carpenter #17

Tolkien was pleased that The Hobbit was being well received, though he knows that the two glowing, unsigned reviews in The Times and the Times Literary ...

23 October 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#21

 Carpenter #18

Originally published as just a fragment of a thank you letter to Stanley Unwin who had written that Tolkien was "one of those rare people with geni...

16 December 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#22

 Carpenter #19

Tolkien has received a letter from Arthur Ransome, who wonders about the use of the word "man" in The Hobbit, as well as a few other letters f...

1938

4 February 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth

#25

 Carpenter #22

Tolkien sends to his publisher, the first chapter of a new book, the sequel to The Hobbit. 'A Long-expected Party', the first chapter of this ...

11th February 1938

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1988

Stanley Unwin writes that his son Rayner is delighted with the sample chapter from the new book about hobbits. Rayner does wonder if a child who hasn&ap...

18 February 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#27

 Carpenter #24

In this two page handwritten letter, Tolkien thanks Unwin's son Rayner for his positive feedback on the first chapter of the new book, "A Long...

3rd May, 1938

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1989

Stanley writes a short cover letter to Tolkien explaining that Rayner has had little time (going to boarding school on this day), but has scribbled down...

1 June 1938

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1991

Stanley Unwin writes that Houghton Mifflin (the American publisher) reports having sold approximately 3000 copies of The Hobbit, and will re-announce it...

June 4th 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#32

 Carpenter #28

Tolkien thanks Stanley Unwin for the excellent news from America, where The Hobbit is selling well and it has won a prize of $250. Rayner's review ...

22 July 1938

Rütten & Loening Verlag, Potsdam to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1981

A German publisher is interested in The Hobbit but needs Tolkien to confirm his Aryan descent before proceeding.

24 July 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth

#35

 Carpenter #31

Tolkien bemoans The Hobbit being published in 1937 over 1938. His work pressure has left him hard-pressed to get into actions on the sequel. Tolkien has...

25 July 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#33

 Carpenter #29

Tolkien wrote to Stanley Unwin in response to a letter from a German publisher, Rütten & Loening Verlag. They wanted to publish a German translation of...

25 July 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rütten & Loening Verlag

#34

 Carpenter #30

Rütten & Loening Verlag, the German publisher enquired about publishing a German translation of The Hobbit. As part of their conditions they wanted to ...

1986

October 1986

Rayner Unwin to [Booksellers and Press]

#1995

This open letter from Rayner Unwin was sent to various booksellers and members of the press, outlining the planned marketing blitz that would be coming ...