TCG Letter #1992

Tolkien sends a copy of The Hobbit to the Jennings family.

It is assumed that with any manuscript/proofs or copies of books sent that a cover letter or note would also be enclosed. We unfortunately do not currently have an example of those cover notes.

The Jennings sisters were the daughters of Dr. Henry Cecil and Madge Jennings who were friends of the Tolkien's. John D. Rateliff notes in the History of The Hobbit (single volume ed.),^{p. 881, pp. 883-4[1]} that Aileen Jennings may be the young lady mentioned by Tolkien to C. A. Furth in his letter of 31 August 1937.^{Carpenter #15: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to C.A. Furth (Allen & Unwin) • 31 August 1937 (#15) "The MS. certainly wandered about, but it was not, as far as I know, ever read to children, and only read by one child (a girl of 12–13), before Mr Unwin tried it out."[2]}

John Rateliff says that this Hobbit was to Aileen and Elizabeth, but the inscription reads "October 1937 For Henry, Mary and also Aileen and Elizabeth jennings with love from the Author JRRT". Hammond/Scull correctly note that it is to the Jennings family.