Letter 143b

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 143b
Recipient	Allen & Unwin
Date	23 March 1954
Subject(s)	Dust jackets designs for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers

Letter 143b 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 his publisher Allen & Unwin, Tolkien includes two preliminary designs for the jackets of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. He describes these designs as "notions" due to their technical deficiencies but suggests that a skilled artist could refine or expand upon them.

Tolkien notes that he has provided the precise form and significance of the Elvish lettering used in the designs. He also mentions that additional text, such as "The Lord of the Rings (Part I or II)" could be added to the covers or placed on the back.