1933

?October 1933

J.R.R. Tolkien to Convents of the Sacred Heart

#1771

Tolkien sends his poem 'Firiel' to the Convents of the Sacred Heart (at Our Lady's School, Abingdon) to be published in their Chronicle of the Convents ...

2 November 1933

Convents of the Sacred Heart to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1772

A member of the Convents of the Sacred Heart writes to Tolkien to acknowledge that they have received his poem 'Firiel'.

1937

16 December 1937

J.R.R. Tolkien to Stanley Unwin

#22

 Carpenter #19

Tolkien has received a letter from Arthur Ransome, who wonders about the use of the word "man" in The Hobbit, as well as a few other letters from reader...

20 December 1937

Stanley Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2124

Stanley Unwin writes to Tolkien and includes colour plates of illustrations for The Hobbit along with a report from Rayner on The Adventures of Tom Bomb...

1951

9 May 1951

J.R.R. Tolkien to Henry Bosley Woolf

#40

Touching on poems about dragons, Beowulf, and fellow Inkling C. S. Lewis. This letter to Prof. Henry Bosley Woolf thanks him for sending a copy of a pap...

1961

4 October 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#606

 Carpenter #231

Tolkien writes to his Aunt Jane about publishing Tom Bombadil.

11 October 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1070

Tolkien suggests a book about Tom Bombadil as "an interim amusement" that wouldn't cost too much. He suggests Pauline Baynes as illustrator.

2 November 1961

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1071

Rayner suggests that Tolkien include additional poems with 'Tom Bombadil' not just from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

15 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Jane Neave

#487

Tolkien has been asked to provide more poems to go with 'Tom Bombadil' as the book is too small according to GA&U. He notes that he believed a small vol...

15 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#608

 Carpenter #233

Allen & Unwin agree to publish The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

18 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1072

Tolkien sends an additional poem (Princess Mee) to Rayner Unwin for possible inclusion in the 'Tom Bombadil' poetry book.

18 November 1961

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1073

Rayner tells Tolkien that he has sent the Tom Bombadil poems to Pauline Baynes to get her thoughts.

23 November 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#489

Tolkien notes the evolution of the The Adventure's of Tom Bombadil,

8 December 1961

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1074

Tolkien has misgivings about the 'Tom Bombadil' poems being incompatible, particularly 'The Sea-Bell'.

1962

12 January 1962

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1075

Rayner Unwin sends Tolkien a specimen page for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and estimates the book would be a total of 64 pages.

5 February 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1076

Tolkien submits additional poems for possible inclusion in the 'Tom Bombadil' book - 'Firiel', 'The Trees of Kortirion', 'Shadow-Bride' and 'Knocking at...

9 May 1962

Rayner Unwin (George Allen & Unwin) to Pauline Baynes

#1229

Rayner Unwin writes offering Pauline Baynes the job of illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book. This will include...

9 May 1962

Joy Hill (GA&U) to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1230

Following Rayner Unwin's letter to Pauline Baynes, Joy Hill writes to Tolkien confirming their offer to Baynes to illustrate The Adventures of Tom Bomba...

11 May 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill

#1231

Tolkien replies to Joy Hill and includes the signed contract sent on 9 May. He says he will deal with the other matters over the weekend.

14 May 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Joy Hill

#1232

Following Tolkien's letter of 11 May he sends Joy Hill a corrected introduction to The Adventures of Tom Bombadil along with corrections for some of the...

25 June 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#496

Tolkien notes his admiration of Baynes working practices and laments his own. He again asks for Baynes to work on the book and hopes for a visit. He con...

1 August 1962

Allen & Unwin to Pauline Baynes

#870

Ronald Eames of George Allen & Unwin writes to Pauline Baynes. They are delighted with the first instalment for The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other...

3 August 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#492

Tolkien sends his reaction to the first pictures produced for the book:

3 August 1962

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#871

Rayner Unwin writes to Tolkien detailing Pauline Baynes schedule for completing illustrations. He asks Tolkien to dine with he and his father in London ...

7 August 1962

Allen & Unwin to Pauline Baynes

#872

Allen & Unwin write to Pauline Baynes regarding a mock-up for the new book.

9 August 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#873

Tolkien writes to Rayner, agreeing on a visit to London on 22 August. He has written to Pauline, and today receives a reply from her that she is proceed...

27 August 1962

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#874

Rayner sends Tolkien full-page illustrations of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, drawn by Pauline Baynes. He asks Tolkien to decide which one should be e...

2 November 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1478

 Carpenter #241a

Tolkien says that as Rayner knows, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil began, with his Aunt Jane. he asks that a complimentary copy be sent to her and charge...

9 November, 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1530

Tolkien thanks Rayner for sending him Sir Stanley Unwin's article in the Sunday Times. He will send a list of people who he wishes to receive a copy of ...

?19 November, 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1479

 Carpenter #241b

In secret, Allen & Unwin had been putting a 'Festschrift' together to present to Tolkien on his 70th birthday. Tolkien writes to to congratulate Rayner ...

13 December 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Norman and Lena Davis

#2143

Tolkien sent Norman and Lena Davis an autographed copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil with an inscription and a personalized note. In his note Tolkie...

23 December 1962

J.R.R. Tolkien to Pauline Baynes

#876

Tolkien writes to Pauline Bayne's giving her news on the reception of the Bombadil book.

1963

13 February 1963

J.R.R. Tolkien to Miss Allen

#1063

Tolkien writes to Miss Allen and notes that the Mewlips of his poem are mere legend, and that although the Hobbits are treated in his work as 'historica...

1960s (likely December 1963)

J.R.R. Tolkien to Eileen Elgar

#776

Tolkien thanks Eileen Elgar for her card and sends her a copy of his "verse" which he describes as an American copy but printed in England. Tolkien apol...

6 December 1963

J.R.R. Tolkien to Madam Ossendrijver

#513

A brief letter stating that The Silmarillion is not yet complete, but that The Adventures of Tom Bombadil should be coming out soon in America. He compl...

1964

8 July 1964

J.R.R. Tolkien to James Heaf

#545

In an earlier letter Tolkien had suggested that James Heaf read his forthcoming book The Silmarillion. He now regrets that The Silmarillion might not be...

31 July 1964

J.R.R. Tolkien to Elizabeth "Lisa" Gell-Mann

#2115

Tolkien is pleased that 'Lisa' likes his books and makes some suggestions for further reading. Namely Farmer Giles of Ham and The Adventures of Tom Bomb...

28 August 1964

J.R.R. Tolkien to E. Rasdall

#567

Tolkien replies, thanking Mr. E. Rasdall for his interest in his writing and returns the copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil to be signed. Tolkien ex...

1969

15 January 1969

Joy Hill to Brian Sibley

#727

Tolkien's secretary, Joy Hill, returns Brian Sibley's copy of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, which Tolkien has signed and hand-corrected one of the poems.

1971

10 June 1971

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs. Phyllis Robertson

#290

 Carpenter #324a

Tolkien sends signed copies of his book The Adventures of Tom Bombadil to Mrs Robertson and discusses the biblical parallels to the current weather.