and offering more. He reports that Houghton Mifflin think that Tolkien’s dust-jacket design has a ‘British look’, and that they have assumed that the drawings Tolkien sent merely as examples of his work are illustrations for The Hobbit.
13 August 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He asks that copies of The Hobbit be sent to George S. Gordon and R.W. Chambers, enclosing notes that Tolkien has written. Allen & Unwin may also use the colour illustrations if they wish. Tolkien suggests that they ‘keep them in “cold storage”’ when they are returned from America (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He has now completed a colour version of the frontispiece, The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water. – Tolkien also writes to Stanley Unwin, hoping to be able to have lunch with him when he is next in London, probably in November. He had time only to glance at Elaine Griffiths’ work on the Clark Hall Beowulf before going to Sidmouth, but will correct or help in correcting it, and write his ‘small bit’, as soon as he returns to Oxford (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins).
16 August 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. He has sent the copies of The Hobbit as requested. He returns the drawing of a dragon that Tolkien had made for the binding. Furth agrees that the colour illustrations may be stored in the Allen & Unwin safe.
28 August 1937 Tolkien writes to Mabel Day. He is working on the specimens she requested in her letter of 6 August. He had hoped to complete work by now on his transcription and collation of Ancrene Wisse, but because of the death of the librarian at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and other difficulties, he has not been able to see the original manuscript; and possible library repairs at Cambridge may make consultation impossible for some time. He asks if the Early English Text Society has formally asked for permission to publish the text of the manuscript, as the acting librarian knows of no such permission. Tolkien feels that he said all that he could about the advantages of line-by-line presentation in a letter long ago to A.W. Pollard (he believes) and in conversation with Robin Flower and A.H. Smith. He thanks Day for valuable notes on A Middle English Vocabulary, sent long ago, and will make what use he can of them under the severe limitations of plate-correction, if an opportunity for another reprint arises – though he now has no control over the glossary.
30 August 1937 Mabel Day writes to Tolkien. She will ask Corpus Christi College, Cambridge for permission to publish MS CCCC 402. She informs Tolkien that A.W. Pollard seems never to have received a letter from him regarding line-by-line presentation. Pollard is anxious to receive examples of scribal errors occurring generally at line-ends, which has been put forward as the reason for presenting a manuscript line by line.
31 August 1937 Tolkien sends C.A. Furth The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water to forward to Houghton Mifflin if Allen & Unwin think it good enough. He chose the colour subjects for The Hobbit so that they would be evenly distributed throughout the book, especially when taken in conjunction with the black and white drawings. He asks if there is any chance of remuneration, as these colour illustrations were made specially for Houghton Mifflin and involved considerable labour. ‘At the moment I am in such difficulties (largely owing to medical expenses) that even a very small fee would be a blessing’ (Letters, p. 20). He does not expect Allen & Unwin to pay if they should decide to use the colour pictures, however: he appreciates that ‘production costs have been excessive (and that I have been hard on proofs)’. They ‘are most welcome at any time to anything you think I can do, in the way of drawing or redrawing, that is fit to use on The Hobbit’ (Letters, p. 20). He hopes that Mr Baggins will eventually come to his rescue. He has had letters of appreciation from George S. Gordon, R.W. Chambers, and Russell Meiggs, the editor of the Oxford Magazine. He encloses comments on the dust-jacket flap copy for The Hobbit, pointing out various errors and inaccuracies and sends a revised version of the blurb that they might wish to use.
1 September 1937 and later By summer 1937 E.V. Gordon, having given up hope of any contribution from Tolkien, has completed by himself work on an edition of Pearl, though he tells Kenneth Sisam at Oxford University Press that he would still welcome any contribution by Tolkien, which would certainly be for the good of the edition. But he does not want any long delays, as he has other commitments, and Pearl is replacing Sir Gawain on the Oxford English syllabus in 1938. Therefore by the beginning of September 1937 he sends his complete manuscript to Tolkien for him to revise and criticize, and suggests a date by which the work should be done. – By 20 November 1937 Tolkien will write at least one letter to Gordon, expressing the opinion that some parts are too long.
4 September 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. He has asked Houghton Mifflin to return the specimen pictures, and has put forward Tolkien’s claim for a fee. If Allen & Unwin need to reprint The Hobbit, they will include the new colour art and will make some remuneration for their use. In regard to Tolkien’s criticism of the dust-jacket blurb, Allen & Unwin will substitute his wording on any reprint, but much of it by then will be crowded out by quotations from reviews. They may, however, be able to use some of what Tolkien wrote in their press material. Furth sends him a copy of a full-page pre-publication advertisement in the trade paper.
5–7 September 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He apologizes for the length of his letter regarding the jacket blurb: ‘I am afraid that, when I don’t neglect letters, I am apt to write ones much too long’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He thinks that he is still owed five copies of The Hobbit but will need twelve in all, to go to Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Cambridge, etc. He will have no immediate opportunity to rework Mr. Bliss as his research fellowship is rather exigent, but there might be a few odd moments if he was sure what was needed. In a postscript dated 7 September he suggests reviewers of The Hobbit, including W.R. Childe at Leeds, and personal connections which might promote sales in Britain and elsewhere. His wife has asked for the return of the photograph of Tolkien he sent to Allen & Unwin, as it is her property.
6 September 1937 Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien, offering him an advance on royalties. He sends a cheque for £25.
?Early September 1937 Around this time, Tolkien replaces his first car with another second-hand car.
8 September 1937 C.A. Furth writes to Tolkien. He is sending a complimentary copy of The Hobbit to W.R. Childe. Tolkien’s remaining author’s copies will be posted around 20 September, and he has asked that Tolkien be sent another dozen complimentary copies for publicity purposes.
17 September 1937 Tolkien writes to C.A. Furth. He needs only five outstanding author’s copies of The Hobbit, and seven more ‘to give to one or two people who for reasons of age or finance cannot buy’ (Tolkien–George Allen & Unwin archive, HarperCollins). He has gone through a great deal of the Clark Hall Beowulf but cannot pass it without seeing Elaine Griffiths. He confesses that he has not yet written his own part. – Tolkien writes to Stanley Unwin, thanking him for the cheque which arrived at a very convenient moment.
21 September 1937 The Hobbit is published by George Allen & Unwin. Tolkien probably receives the twelve copies he has requested only on or just before 21 September. He spends much of publication day, and possibly the next few days, inscribing copies to family, friends, colleagues, and former students, writing letters, and presumably wrapping and posting books. Some of the recipients are Helen Buckhurst, Simonne d’Ardenne, E.V. Gordon, Elaine Griffiths, Jennie Grove, the Jennings family, K.M. Kilbride (whom he also sends a copy of Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics), Stella Mills, Dorothy Moore (an old friend of Edith Tolkien), Jane Neave, and Hilary Tolkien. Tolkien is not sure of Jane Neave’s current address and asks Hilary for it. In the coming days and weeks he will receive many letters of thanks and praise for The Hobbit. See note.
22 September 1937 Tolkien writes to his Aunt Jane Neave, intending to send the letter with a copy of The Hobbit (but see entry for 6 October 1937). He looks forward to seeing her at Christmas, and will fetch her in his new car.
24 September 1937 Hilary