Letter 140c

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 140c
Recipient	W. N. Beard
Date	23 September 1953
Subject(s)	Illustrations in The Lord of the Rings

Letter 140c is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition.

Summary

In a letter to W. N. Beard of Allen & Unwin, Tolkien addresses delays and issues with the illustrations for The Lord of the Rings. He expresses regret for holding onto the drawings for an extended period and critiques the execution of the copies, noting both his own lack of detailed sketches and the insufficient quality of the reproductions.

Tolkien provides specific feedback on various illustrations, such as the drawing of the Doors of Durin for the chapter A Journey in the Dark, emphasising the need for accuracy in inscriptions and the preference for upright rather than italic text. He also highlights necessary corrections and improvements for other elements, including runes, title-page letters, and a tomb inscription. Despite the lengthy and detailed nature of his feedback, Tolkien acknowledges the difficulty of being both brief and clear on these matters, citing personal circumstances that delayed his response.