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First paperback edition, signed by the author on the half-title in blue ink. This copy came from the descendants of Eileen Elgar, a dedicated fan with whom Tolkien corresponded generously from around 1961 to 1970. They often saw each other during Tolkien's holiday retreats to Hotel Miramar, close to Elgar's home in Bournemouth. It was Elgar who famously prompted Tolkien's detailed explanation for why Frodo succumbed to the One Ring at the climax of The Lord of the Rings. In a lengthy letter of September 1963, Tolkien wrote to Elgar, "Very few (indeed so far as letters go only you and one other) have observed or commented on Frodo's 'failure'. It is a very important point" (Letters, p. 460). As Elgar was deaf, they communicated with writing pads during their meetings. On one such occasion in March 1965, Tolkien loaned her the typescript of Smith of Wootton Major (1967), which Elgar returned along with her feedback. Tolkien called her "highly intelligent & well-read" in his letter to Michael Tolkien of 16 October 1963 (Letters, p. 472). Tolkien reluctantly allowed a paperback edition, fearing it would "cheapen the old Hobbit" and preferring Bilbo to "amble along" in hardcover, as he had done since 1937. As a middle ground, Tolkien stipulated that Pauline Baynes illustrate the softcovers, that no greater than 35,000 copies be printed, and that the book include advertisements for the hardcover editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. A second paperback printing was ruled out after hardcover sales suffered. Tolkien further complained that Penguin's editors had changed "dwarves" to "dwarfs" and "elvish" to "elfish", writing to his usual publishers Allen & Unwin, "I view this procedure with dudgeon". Hammond & Anderson A3e. Humphrey Carpenter & Christopher Tolkien, eds, The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded Edition, 2023. Octavo. Original wrappers lettered in yellow, pink, and white, wraparound colour illustration by Pauline Baynes. Spine a little toned and skewed, small mark to front wrapper, extremities slightly rubbed, with two short splits to joint ends, couple of spots to edges, contents toned as usual. A very good copy.
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