147 From a letter to Allen & Unwin

[The jacket of The Lord of the Rings was altered by the publishers in the light of Tolkien's comments in the previous letter.]

15 June 1954

It was a great moment yesterday when I received the advance copy of The Fellowship of the Ring. The book itself is very presentable indeed.

I think the jacket is now much improved, and is rather striking. I like the grey paper used, and much prefer it to the other colours. But the specimens of the jackets for II and III do bring home to me the point, which I had not fully appreciated: the need for differentiation. Since the same device is, for economy, to be used throughout, they do look too much alike; and choice of colour is perhaps less important than distinction. But this could perhaps better be achieved by varying the colour of the major lettering? Title and author in red?

I do not really myself mind at all, and leave it to you.