1937

11 May 1937

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

#1873

In reply to Tolkien's letter, 13th May, asking about the US publisher interested in The Hobbit, C. A. Furth gives details. It is the Houghton Miffl...

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 ...

10 August 1937

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

#1951

C. A. Furth writes to let Tolkien know that he is sending to him an advance copy of The Hobbit and asks if he would like more. He notes that Houghton Mi...

13 August 1937

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

#1966

Tolkien writes to C. A. Furth asking that copies of The Hobbit be sent to R. W. Chambers and George S. Gordon. He says that GA&U can use the colour illu...

31 August 1937

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

#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 ...

4 September 1937

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

#1973

In a letter to Tolkien, C. A. Furth notes that he has written to Houghton Mifflin asking that Tolkien's specimen drawings be returned and asks them...

27 September 1937

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

#2090

C.A. Furth informs Tolkien that Houghton Mifflin Co. will pay him $100 for use of his illustrations for their edition of The Hobbit, due to be (and ulti...

1938

17 February 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen & Unwin

#589

Tolkien informs his publisher that Houghton Mifflin are yet to return to him the five orginal watercolour paintings for The Hobbit.

Late February - early March, no later than 5 March

Houghton Mifflin Co. to George Allen & Unwin

#2138

Houghton Mifflin Co. send the five colour illustrations to GA&U discussed late in 1937.

5 March 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Ferris Greenslet

#2144

Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull note on their 'Addenda and Corrigenda to The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide Revised and Enlarged Edition (201...

12 March 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Houghton Mifflin Co.

#31

Carpenter #27

Tolkien expresses reluctance to create drawings of hobbits and suggests leaving such tasks to someone with artistic skills. He provides a description of...

25 April 1938

Houghton Mifflin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1860

Houghton Mifflin, the American publisher of The Hobbit, notified Tolkien that he has won a $250 award for the best children's book published that S...

?26 April 1938

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#2147

Tolkien forwards the cablegram he received from Houghton Mifflin notifying him of The Hobbit's win as best Children's Book for Spring.

29 April 1938

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2148

Tolkien had sent a Cablegram from Houghton Mifflin to him onto GA&U and Stanley Unwin replies that they will that for publicity purposes. He also asks T...

17 May 1938

Houghton Mifflin Co. to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2152

Houghton Mifflin Co. send Tolkien a cheque for $250 for being awarded first prize in the New York Herald Tribune book awards. The Hobbit had won first p...

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...

1939

8 February 1939

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

#2175

In reply to Tolkien's letter of 2 February, Furth tells Tolkien that the middle of June will be the latest date that GA&U can receive and have read...

1947

2 September 1947

Philip Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2599

Philip Unwin writes to Tolkien on the matter of his riddles from The Hobbit. Houghton Mifflin wants to use a poem and the riddles in an anthology but ar...

20 September 1947

J.R.R. Tolkien to Philip Unwin

#256

Carpenter #110

Tolkien provides information about the origin and authorship of the riddles included in The Hobbit. He clarifies that most of the riddles are his origin...

1950

26 July 1950

W.N. Beard to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2778

W.N. Beard from George Allen & Unwin writes to Tolkien about the Houghton Mifflin edition of The Hobbit. They need to fulfil an order for the US publish...

c. 26 July 1950

W.N. Beard to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2780

Likely on the same day as #TCGLetter2778, W.N. Beard from GA&U sends Tolkien proofs of the revised Hobbit.

9 August 1950

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2781

After Tolkien had written to W.N. Beard, remarking that he was surprised that the revised Hobbit had been put into print, see #Letter128, Stanley Unwin ...

9 September 1950

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2791

Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien concerning the US reprint of The Hobbit. He remarks that the stereo plates are taking a long time and asks if Tolkien mi...

11 September 1950

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#2792

Tolkien returns the postcard, sent by Stanley Unwin. Tolkien agrees that they can go ahead without the revised stereo plates. See #TCGLetter2791 In a no...

13 September 1950

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2796

Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien about the US edition of The Hobbit. It had been held up for some time and although Tolkien had agreed to let a reprint g...

15 September 1950

Jean Poindexter Colby to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2801

Jean Poindexter Colby, children's books editor at Houghton Mifflin Company, writes to Tolkien. She has included twelve copies of the US edition of ...

19 October 1950

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

#2808

GA&U send Tolkien ten copies of the new US edition of Farmer Giles of Ham, published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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 ...

1955

26 May 1955 (day of delivery)

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1526

Rayner Unwin sends Tolkien a folder with reviews from the USA, forwarded from Houghton Mifflin.

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.

1961

1961

George Allen & Unwin to Houghton Mifflin Co.

#1719

A series of letters found at the University of Reading GA&U archives. Consisting of 144 items. Not all of these letters are concerned with Tolkien but s...

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...

1964

20 February 1964

Austin Olney to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2252

Olney from Tolkien's American publisher Houghton Mifflin writes to Tolkien saying that they have decided not to commission Virgil Finlay to illustr...

10 September 1964

J.R.R. Tolkien to Houghton Mifflin

#637

Carpenter #263

Tolkien is not happy with the design of HMCo's Tree and Leaf.

11 September 1964

J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill

#638

Carpenter #264

Tolkien really does not like the design of HMCo's Tree and Leaf. He comments negatively on Carole Ward's proposal for a serialization of The L...

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 ...

31 July 1965

J.R.R. Tolkien to Austin Olney

#1483

Carpenter #274a

Tolkien writes to Austin Olney, at Houghton Mifflin, with corrections and additions to The Two Towers.

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 1966. It then goes on in d...

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

#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.

1970

18 December 1970

Joy Hill to Austin Olney

#1158

Joy Hill thanks Austin Olney for presents sent to Tolkien by Houghton Mifflin.

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...

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...