Letter 137b

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 137b
Recipient	Rayner Unwin
Date	5 June 1953
Subject(s)	The Fellowship of the Ring

Letter 137b is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition.

Summary

Tolkien inquires about the progress of the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring. Responding to Unwin's earlier correspondence indicating that proofs of Book I would soon be ready and confirming the need for three maps, Tolkien seeks an update on the timeline, referencing Unwin's previous estimate of receiving galleys within two months. He expresses his willingness to arrange assistance for proof-checking, noting that the manuscript was thoroughly revised and should require minimal intervention.

Tolkien also addresses the issue of the Doors of Durin illustration, agreeing with Unwin's concern that a white line drawing on a black background would create an undesirable black lump on the pages. He commits to addressing the maps and the necessary drawing for the first volume before mid-June.