1937

11 May 1937

C.A. Furth (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1872

C. A. Furth informs Tolkien that a US publisher is interested in publishing The Hobbit and they would like to add four colour illustrations to the book....

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...

14 May 1937

C.A. Furth (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1873

In reply to Tolkien's letter asking about the US publisher interested in The Hobbit, C. A. Furth gives details. It is the Houghton Mifflin Company ...

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...

1 June 1937

C.A. Furth (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1919

Writing to Tolkien, C. A. Furth of GA&U asks him to return the approved binding for The Hobbit. He agrees that the 'wavy line' will be removed...

c. 1 June 1937

George Allen & Unwin to Houghton Mifflin Co.

#1920

Noted in their letter to Tolkien of 1 June 1937, C. A. Furth says that they have written to Houghton Mifflin in regard of Tolkien's letter to them ...

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 ...

1938

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...

1954

13 May 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#390

 Carpenter #145

Tolkien is pleased with positive early opinions about his work. He notes his dissatisfaction with the Houghton Mifflin effort, and gives some suggestion...

2 December 1954

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#406

 Carpenter #158

Tolkien briefly mentions having only had time to glance at the Houghton Mifflin 'jacket' information. He thinks it was written by someone who ...

1959

12 August 1959

J.R.R. Tolkien to Dell

#1037

Tolkien writes his thanks for Dell's letter and forwards a copy to his US publishers.

1963

11 October 1963

J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill

#1862

Tolkien writes to his secretary about the American deluxe Hobbit proposal, which had sent him a specimen of artwork from Virgil Finlay. He has some issu...

1965

23 June 1965

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

#2250

Tolkien is working on revisions to The Hobbit for the American publishers due to the Ace controversy, but also needs to make revisions for the Longmans ...

1966

10 February 1966

J.R.R. Tolkien to Donald A. Wollheim

#720

Tolkien writes and expresses his regret at his delayed reply. he had like many at that time been ill with influenza. He encloses two copies of the signe...

[March 1966]

Ace Books to Press

#2467

Ace Books issues a public press release, announcing that they have come to an agreement with J.R.R. Tolkien for the payment of royalties on the Ace edit...

4 March 1966

Ballantine Books to Press

#2468

Ballantine Books issues a statement announcing that their paperback edition of The Tolkien Reader is forthcoming in September of 1966. It then goes on i...

11 March 1966

J.R.R. Tolkien to George Sayer

#184

Tolkien writes to his friend George Sayer regarding his preferred version of The Lord of the Rings should Tolkien have one sent to him.

21 March 1966

Rayner Unwin to Publishers' Weekly Editor in Chief

#2469

Rayner Unwin writes an open letter to Publishers' Weekly, in response to an article that had been published in the 14th March issue. He disputes cl...

25 April 1966

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#774

Tolkien writes concerning the designs for a new dust jacket for The Lord of the Rings and on plans for The Tolkien Reader. Tolkien would like to see the...

3 May 1966

J.R.R. Tolkien to Roger Verhulst (of the William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)

#745

This brief letter dated 3 May 1966, to Roger Verhulst acknowledges receipt of the Charles Williams volume, Essays Presented to Charles Williams.

13 May 1966

J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill

#786

Tolkien thanks Joy Hill for sending various packets including fan mail. He would like to attend a Donald Swann concert and asks for seats. He says, rega...

1967

12 January 1967

Austin Olney to Joy Hill

#2253

Olney (Houghton Mifflin) sends a sample illustration from Maurice Sendak to Hill at George Allen & Unwin, intended for the proposed American deluxe edit...

20 February 1967

Rayner Unwin to Austin Olney

#2255

Rayner had visited with Tolkien on 16 February, and shown him the Maurice Sendak Hobbit art piece proposed for a Houghton Mifflin deluxe illustrated edt...

1 November 1967

Barbara Remington to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2248

Barbara Remington had been commissioned to paint the cover art for the Ballantine paperback edition of The Hobbit under extreme time pressure due to the...

14 December 1967

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rosfrith Murray

#760

Tolkien sends Rosfrith a copy of the US version of his 'small tale'. He does not state the title, but it is very likely to be Smith of Wootton...

1968

6 March 1968

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs. Beck

#802

Tolkien writes about the Ballantine posters, which he does not like.

1973

9 February 1973

J.R.R. Tolkien to Sterling Lanier

#837

In an update to his letter of 24 January Tolkien confirms that he has asked for GA&U to help clear up the matter of the copyright situation and thanks L...

2013

November 1, 2013

Betty Ballantine to To Whom it may concern

#2249

Ballantine wrote this typed noted to accompany the sale of an original Barbara Remington black & white concept art piece for the cover of The Hobbit, gi...