Letter 240

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 240
Recipient	Mrs Gasch (Pauline Baynes)
Date	1 August 1962
Subject(s)	Tom Bombadil

Letter 240 is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Summary

Mrs Gasch (Pauline Baynes) was illustrating The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and had been given both a typescript and a galley-proof of the poems. However, the former mentioned Tom Bombadil wearing a "peacock's feather" on his hat, and the latter had a "swan-wing feather". Tolkien told her that the peacock was a leftover from an old draft, and would have to go. Bombadil had a swan-feather at first, and later in the narrative a blue kingfisher feather.

Next followed a short treatise about the etymology of "kingfisher", and its place as the rival of the swans as most prized property of a King; in this case Bombadil. Tolkien told her not to be bothered too much, as most detail is just a "private pleasure". Tolkien looked forward to Mrs. Gasch' interpretation.