TCG Letter #868

GA&U sent Arthur Ransome a copy of The Fellowship of the Ring asking him to review it. Included was a short note: "I am sending you a set of uncorrected proofs (minus runes and maps)". Also on a white slip of paper read "The Fellowship of the Ring / by / J.R.R. Tolkien" and "Not less than 21/- nor more than 25/-"

Sold at Bloomsbury, the following is their description in full.

[The Fellowship of the Ring: White paper label applied to upper cover with typed title “The Fellowship of the Ring / by / J.R.R. Tolkien”, with manuscript note “Not less than 21/- / nor more than 25/-“. With a laid in TLS from the publisher Stanley Unwin dated 14 December 1953, “I am sending you a set of uncorrected proofs (minus runes and maps” and asking for a review.”

These page-proofs are in their earliest state, with the title page before the borders were added, and pp.16 and 21 incorrectly numbered, and p.319 was not printed at all. In addition, there are five spelling corrections in red ink (on pp.30; 56; 74; 263; 268), one spelling correction in pencil, on p.315, and there is one alternative textual reading in red ink: p.306 (“hobbits & other friends” for “men”). The date of the covering letter makes this the earliest recorded copy of vol.I, other than the copy sent to Tolkien on 29 September 1953.]