All page numbers refer to the HarperCollins 2019 Deluxe Letters from Father Christmas.
It is 100% understood that editorial decisions are being made, and the following list is not intended to try and steer the editorial process. The below is just a (pedantic) capture of all (?) differences between the transcribed text and the original letters as written by Tolkien that I have noted. It all depends on what HarperCollins feels would be “definitive” for the text, as reproduced in the transcriptions. My personal (and only personal) leaning would be for the transcriptions to not correct anything from Tolkien’s letters - the charm of mis-spellings by Polar Bear, and shorthand notations often used, is of more interest to me than having “corrected” text for modern readers. I am sure the family has input on removing personal details, but I am hopeful that with all of it legible in the reproduced letters, there is no harm in transcribing them either.
My comments on any particular items are [in square brackets and italics].
One editorial decision I have not captured (as there are so many) is where initials are expanded into full names (eg letter says NPB and transcription says “North Polar Bear”. There are a rare few instances where this is not done in the transcriptions, though, and the initials are used.
Polar Bear atrocious spelling: I have marked PB’s misspellings that were corrected in the transcriptions, as the editorial decision seems (rightly to me) to maintain his misspellings as part of his charm.
Tolkien loved using underlines to emphasize words, and in my opinion it reads better out loud when it is there. I marked all of these that seemed intentional.
Tolkien somewhat persistently liked putting the apostrophe before the “nt” in most words in the early letters, and stopped in the later letters. I marked the ones I noticed, but don’t really think they need to be transcribed. I just thought they were an interesting thing to note.
I have persisted here in using bold for transcriptions for Polar Bear and italics for Ilbereth.
Some of the major edits that I am hopeful can be applied in the next edition are marked with *.
I have numbered all of the differences in the table below, to hopefully make them easier to keep track of, but otherwise this “ID” can be safely ignored. As this document gets updated and occasional new lines are added, I do not change the numbering scheme but instead insert them with letters (such as #6a appearing between #6 and #7).
Version 3 changes from v2 are marked in red.
ID | Page | Current Transcription | Original Letter/Envelope Says |
0* | foldout | [some stamp images are very pixellated] | [higher resolution scans possible?] |
*1 | 6, 7 | [not transcribed] | [Tolkien’s handwritten note - I would love for this to be transcribed as well!] |
2 | 13 | Christmas House, | Christmas House |
3 | 13 | [not transcribed] | Love to daddy, mummy, michael & auntie [&?] mary |
*4 | 13 | I have drawn me and my house for you. | I have drawn ME and My House for you. [Tolkien used the same capitalization in his letter and as the titles in the artwork, so it seems he is naming the art pieces here, not just their contents.] |
5 | 13 | The snow is very thick at the North Pole tonight. | The snow is very thick at the NORTH POLE tonight. |
6 | 19 | Dear Michael Hilary Father Christmas | Michael Hilary with love from Father Christmas [letter body] |
*6a | 19 | [Envelope verso not reproduced] | Envelope verso with commercial Father Christmas seal [reproduced in 1999 edition on half title page. Also reproduced on the rear cover of the 1995 edition with the removable letters, but in this case, there is clearly an archival file mark on the right side of the envelope verso. Out of curiosity - is the mark on the envelope itself and was photoshopped out of the 1999 edition? ] |
7 | 20 | Doesn’t | Does’nt |
7a | 22 | Dear John with love from Father Christmas | John Francis from Father Christmas [letter body] |
8 | 25 | Father Christmas went off in a great hurry | Father Christmas went off in great hurry |
9 | 25 | wouldn’t | would’nt |
10 | 25 | Do you like my writing: | Do you like my writing? |
10a | 27 | Cliff House, | Cliff House [Capitalization of “world” and commas differ. General note - the transcriptions are not consistent for these addresses each year - sometimes the editor adds commas, sometimes the exact format from Tolkien is transcribed. I tried to catch all to make them consistently match the original letters.] |
11 | 27 | haven’t | have’nt |
12 | 32 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
13 | 32 | it was a sleighload of chocolate things, which | it was a sleighload of chocolate things - which |
14 | 36 | he must never, never touch it. | he must never never touch it. [comma removed] |
15 | 36 | packing I do for him... | packing I do for him. |
16 | 36 | just with his finger... | just with his finger. |
17 | 36 | Since we moved. Anyway, he was | Since we moved - anyway, he was |
18 | 38 | and putting a bit of his own about me | and putting a bit of his own in the middle about me |
18a | 39 | Cliff House, near the North Pole | Cliff House near the North Pole |
19 | 39 | My dear people: there seem to get | My dear people: John, Michael, Christopher, also Aslang [sp?], also Mummy, also Auntie Jennie - also daddy, there seem to get |
20 | 41 | the North Polar Bear has spent most of the time asleep and | the North Polar Bear (you know who I mean?) has spent most of the time asleep and |
21 | 41 | Everybody does sleep most of the time here in winter | Of course you know! and everybody does sleep most of the time here in winter |
22 | 41 | when the North Polar Bear put his nose against it - it took the skin off: now it is bandaged with red flannel. Why did he? | when the North Polar Bear put his nose against it - took the skin off: that is why it is bandaged with red flannel in the picture (but the bandage has slipped). Why did he? |
23 | 41 | where it oughtn’t to be | Where it ought’nt to be |
24 | 42 | (and distant friend) the Great Bear | (and distant friend) the GREAT BEAR |
25 | 42 | but it doesn't work as well. | but it doesn't work as well - you can see that by my picture. |
26 | 43 | [not transcribed] | These are blots which Father Christmas could not rub out!! |
27 | 44 | The Man in the Moon paid me a visit the other day - a fortnight ago exactly - he often does | The MAN in the MOON paid me a visit the other day - a fortnight ago exactly December 7th - he often does |
28 | 44 | he is so fond | he is so fond |
29 | 44 | and the wicked bear | and the wicked bear |
30 | 44 | [envelope verso not transcribed] | [On the black envelope] Very Sorry - am sending this off tonight - (Friday). Polar B. forgot to post it. It must go by special Reindeer which needs Special Stamp. F.C. Should get to you on Xmas morning... |
31 | 45 | and said the moon was going out! | and said 'the moon was going out!' |
*32 | 45 | The Polar Bear only laughs when I tell him it’s his fault, and he curls up on my hearthrug and won't do anything but snore. | The Polar Bear only laughs when I tell him it’s his fault, and he curls up on my hearthrug and won't do anything but snore. This is Father Christmas's hearthrug and I am not on it NPB |
33 | 46 | a volcano or a geyser | A volcano or a geysir [sic - I think just a mistake that could be silently corrected as currently done in the transcription] |
34 | 46 | I have written you a very long letter this year as there was nothing to draw | I have written you a very long letter this year to make up for the dark card - there was nothing to draw |
35 | 46 | and happiness next year. | and happiness NEXT Year. |
36 | 47 | Top o’ the World, | “Top o’ the World” |
*37 | 47 | [not transcribed] | [On envelope] DEAR CH. NOT MY FAULT FR CHRISTMAS FORGOT TO SEND THIS - AND HE COULD NOT FIND ANY STAMPS |
38 | 49 | Who’d left the soap on the stairs? Not me! | Who’d left the soap on the stares [sic]? Not me! [An example where editorial consistency is not maintained - some of PBs mistakes are fixed and most are not - due to their charm and directly relating to the “plot”] |
39 | 49 | Crash! Awful moanings and growlings. I ran out on to | Crash! awful moanings and growlings: I ran out on to [Tolkien doesn’t capitalize “awful” as the exclamation mark is not ending the sentence - also the colon vs period.] |
40 | 49 | on to his nose leaving a trail of balls, bundles, parcels and things | onto his nose leaving a trail of balls bundles parcels and things |
41 | 49 | Of course, naturally. | Of course, naturaly. [sic] |
42 | 50 | Yes I can. I drew the flag at the end. | Yes I can I drew flag at end. |
43 | 50 | ran out of doors and wouldn’t | ran out of doors and would’nt [sic] |
44 | 50 | that is why the moon smiled: but the part | that is why the moon smiled: as you can see, but the part |
45 | 50 | you would like a picture of the inside of my new big house | you would like a picture of the INSIDE of my new big house |
46 | 50 | The chief hall is under the largest dome | This is the chief hall under the largest dome |
47 | 50 | Not my fault. Father Christmas did the banisters. | Not my fault Father Christmas did banisters |
48 | 53 | - and what a result!! | - and look at the result!! |
49 | 53 | (he can’t spell very well), and fearful bright colour | (he can’t spell very well), Rot. ...and fearful bright colour |
50 | 53 | Well, my dears, I hope you | Well my dears I hope you |
51 | 53 | little things you didn't | little things you did'nt [sic] |
52 | 55 | We found it on the hall table - today. | We found it on the hall table today. [the e in table just has a long line like many others, it is not a hyphen I believe] |
53 | 55 | Very windy here. It blew | Very windy here: It blew [colon, for period] |
53a | 58 | I like letters and think Cristofers are nice | I like letters and think Cristofers ar [sic] nice |
54 | 59 | Top of the World, | “Top of the World” [for consistency should Xmas be expanded?] |
55 | 61 | and came back with paw all bandaged | and came back with his paw all bandaged |
56 | 63 | But I am rather worried this year. In my office and packing-room, the Polar Bear reads out names | But I am rather worried this year. You can guess from my pictures what happened. The first one shows you my office and packing-room, and the Polar Bear reading out names [Tolkien Collector #31, p. 29 has ‘packing room’ but it seems clear to me a hyphen is in the manuscript] |
57 | 63 | You can guess the result - the North Polar Bear was buried | Look at the result - only actually the North Polar Bear was buried |
*58 | 64,65 | [letter images on page 64 and 65 are transposed] | |
59 | 66 | I am writing in chalk and pencil. | I am writing in chalks and pencil. |
60 | 66 | I have some black ink left, and the Polar Bear | I have some black ink left (but I know you like colours,) and the Polar Bear |
61 | 66 | I am sending him a fountain pen and also | I am sending him a FOUNTAIN PEN and also |
62 | 66 | It shows me crossing the sea on the upper North wind, while a South West gale | It shows me crossing the sea on the upper NORTH wind, while a SOUTH WEST gale |
63 | 69 | Let me know more about what you specially want. Polar Bear sends love. | Let me know more about what you specially want also (if you can find out) what anyone else like P or Mummy or Auntie (I mean Miss) Grove wants. Polar Bear sends love. |
64 | 69 | He has had Whooping Cough!! | He has had whooping cough!! [I don’t believe it is meant to be capitalized, though the C does somewhat look so. It is clearly not capitalized in the letter next month, on p. 71 line 6 but then it is capitalized on line 15] |
64a | 70 | Top of the World, | Top of the World. [period for comma - I know, I know. Also the manuscript has “N.P.” but typically that is expanded.] |
65 | 70 | to send you a full long letter like I mean to. | to send you a full long letter like I meant to. |
65a | 73 | His chest had not got well from whooping cough | His chest had not got well from Wh. Cough [Here the capitalization is emphasized with green ink even.] |
66 | 73 | Everything has gone wrong | Everything has got wrong |
67 | 73 | not of course men made of snow | not of course men made of snow |
68 | 73 | draws a picture of a made Snowman | draws a picture of a made snow-man |
69 | 73 | I've drawn you pictures of everything that happened - Polar Bear telling a story | The top picture shows Polar Bear telling a story |
70 | 73 | after all the tea things had been cleared away; | after all the things had been cleared away. |
71 | 73 | me finding Polar Bear in the snow | The little pictures show me finding Polar Bear in the snow |
72 | 75 | and my father, old Grandfather Yule | and my father old Grandfather Yule |
72a | 80 | Cliff House, | Cliff House. |
73 | 80 | [not transcribed] | [On envelope] I AM SORRY I FORGOT TO POST THIS. LOVE KARHU URGENT. By flying messenger please. N.C. [for Nicholas Christmas] |
74 | 81 | The North Polar Bear, if you know who I mean has been lazy and sleepy as a result | The North Polar Bear, if you know who I mean Silly has been lazy and sleepy as a result |
75 | 82 | to show the kinds of colours) | to show the kinds and colours) |
76 | 85 | he took two Snowboys (who aren’t | he took two Snow-boys (who are’nt [sic] [and the hyphen in Snow-boys] |
77 | 85 | The Snowboys roared with laughter | The Snow-boys roared with laughter |
78 | 85 | They said it was a splendid sight - but they won’t | They said it was a splendid sight, but they won’t |
79 | 86 | They cannot compare with my own reindeer | They cannot compare with my own reindeer |
79a | 90 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
*79b | 92 | [Envelope reproduced - to “John Michael & Christopher & Michael”] | [This envelope belongs on p. 94, in my opinion, to match up with the Dec 23rd letter on p. 95. Reasoning: this envelope is addressed to John et al as is the Dec letter, whereas the Nov letter says “Love to MC&P. Please send John my love when you write him” and the other envelope is addressed to “M C & P Tolkien” to match.] |
*79c | 94 | [Envelope reproduced - to “M C & P Tolkien”] | [This envelope belongs on p. 92, in my opinion, with the Nov 30 letter - see 79b above for reasoning] |
80 | 94 | old Mr Cave Bear himself | old Mr Cave-Brown-Cave himself |
81 | 94 | belonging to Mr Cave Bear | belonging to Mr Cave-Brown-Cave |
82 | 96 | for of course goblins can’t hurt him | for of course goblins can’t hurt him |
83 | 96 | Cave Bear [multiple] | Cave-Brown-Cave |
84 | 99 | Cave Bear [multiple] | Cave-Brown-Cave |
85 | 99 | [not transcribed] | PB jogged my arm and smudged [margin note in red ink] |
86 | 99 | Then Men came along | Then Men came along |
87 | 100 | there are dragons | there are dragons |
88 | 100 | could draw better than you, Daddy Noel; and wouldn’t | could draw better than you, daddy Noel; and would’nt [sic] [also daddy not capitalized] |
89 | 103 | The goblin pictures must be very old | At the bottom of the page you will see a whole row of goblin pictures - they must be very old |
90 | 103 | are sitting on drasils: | are sitting on drasils: |
91 | 103 | Edward the Fourth's time. | Edward the Fourth's time. You will see some more on the pillar in my picture of the Caves. |
92 | 103 | The animal drawings are magnificent. The hairy rhinoceros looks wicked. There is also | Doesn't the hairy rhinoceros look wicked? There is also |
*93 | 103 | Also the ox, stag, bear and cave-bear | You will also see an ox, a stag, a boar and cave-bear [the boar/bear transcription error has returned - it should read “boar” as in the 2012 edition] |
*94 | 103 | Cave Bear [multiple] | Cave-Brown-Cave [In the first edition text from 1976, all references to this bear are silently corrected in the transcriptions to “Cave Bear”, and this persists through all subsequent editions. As no letter facsimiles were reproduced in the 1976 edition, it was not obvious at the time. Was this an intentional change based on family input? The letters themselves do not ever refer to Cave Bear, only Cave-Brown-Cave, across many years and a very large number of occurrences.] |
95 | 103 | a portrait of one of his ancestors! | a portrait of one of his ancestors! |
96 | 103 | Just under the bears is the best a goblin can do | Just under the bears you can see what is the best a goblin can do |
97 | 103 | I am coming from the north, and note | I am coming from the north, you see - and note |
98 | 104 | Cave Bear [multiple] | Cave-Brown-Cave |
99 | 104 | The last picture hasn't happened yet. | The last picture is also imaginary, that is it has’nt [sic] happened yet. |
100 | 104 | (they are exactly like live teddy-bears), Snowbabies | (they are exactly like live teddy-bears), snow-babies |
101 | 104 | I'm wearing a pair of new green trousers. | Don't you like my new green trousers? |
102 | 104 | Nearly everything had disappeared out of | Nearly everything had disappeared out of |
103 | 106 | They love mechanical toys | They love mechanical toys |
104 | 106 | Cave Bear | Cave-Brown-Cave |
105 | 107 | Cave Bear | Cave-Brown-Cave |
106 | 108 | food and clothes (useful stuff) | food and clothes (useful stuff) |
107 | 108 | It is not warm here. | It is not warm here. |
108 | 108 | The Polar Bear got your father's scribble to-day, and was very puzzled by it. I told him | The Polar Bear got your father's scribble to-day, and was very puzzled by it. He thought the written side was meant for him. I told him |
109 | 108 | The drawings pleased him better. | The other side pleased him better. |
110 | 108 | tried to draw bears | tried to draw bears |
111 | 108 | He says it is much nicer | He says it is much nicer |
112 | 111 | I am not so sure. (Anyway | I am not so sure. But Polar Bear says that nearly all of it is in my letter between the two red stars. (Anyway |
113 | 111 | I dare say John will feel | I daresay John will feel |
114 | 115 | Cliff House, near the North Pole | Cliff House |
115 | 115 | your old great-great-etc. grandfather | your old great-great-great-etc. grandfather |
116 | 116 | Goblins. The worst attack we have had for centuries. | My pictures tell you part of the story. Goblins. The worst attack we have had for centuries. |
117 | 116 | and that meant there were bat-riding goblins about | and that meant there bat-riding goblins about [transcription with fix is probably preferred, but this is what is actually written] |
118 | 121 | busy helping, and double-help | busy helping double-help |
119 | 124 | and letter and Priscilla's were found | and letter and Prisilla's [sic] (does she really spell it that way?) were found [I found this hint that Christopher misspelled his sister’s name in his letter to FC quite endearing] |
120 | 124 | [not transcribed] | [On envelope] For CRT. Many Happy Returns of the Day And from me P.B. We are busy already. Love to Priscilla. Sorry she has been poorly. FC. Nov. 20 1934 |
120a | 127 | Cliff House, | Cliff House. |
121 | 127 | to write you so long a letter as | to write you as long a letter as [this handwriting is hard to judge] |
122 | 129 | Very little news: | I have not got any Thornton Burgesses left, but I am sending a book you have not had, but have heard of: "Deerslayer" with some nice pictures. I am also sending a baby Bingo - "Bingolet" - which I hope you will like. Polar Bear says : "Why not all white?" he seems to think any bear is dirty if it is not white all over. Very little news: |
122a | 131 | with old Cave Brown Cave | with old Cave Brown Cave [no change! This transcript matches what Tolkien wrote rather than correcting it to “Cave Bear”. If the decision is to rename the bear “Cave Bear”, this should be changed. Of note, this single occurrence in the 1934 letter clearly does not have the two hyphens that Tolkien consistently used in Cave-Brown-Cave’s name in the 1932 letter when not abbreviated. For consistency perhaps this should be fixed to have hyphens if the name change is reverted.] |
123 | 131 | - out of doors. I shall ask 100 elves | - out of doors. I shall ask 100 elves |
124 | 131 | Polar Bear and Cave Bear | Polar Bear and Cave Brown Cave [The manuscript has CBC here. Hyphenation is not assumed, based on 122a comment above, but the two should match.] |
125 | 131 | yesterday evening to see if they were all right. If you | yesterday evening to see if they were all right - See picture. If you |
126 | 133 | Behind the tree are snowplants | The tree-ish things behind, are snowplants |
127 | 133 | There is also a special edging to the ice-pool | The coloured things in front is a special edging to the ice-pool [Tolkien Collector #31 p. 33 says “in front are a” but I think the manuscript is pretty clear the word is “is” not “are”. It also appears that “things” had the “s” added later which might explain the grammatical difference.] |
128 | 133 | enormous ones. I had to come to the rescue. | enormous ones - hold it up to the light and you will see where. I had to come to the rescue. |
129 | 134 | Polar bear sends love. | Polar Bear sends love. |
129a | 135 | [Envelope to Priscilla mostly obscured] | [If blank, can ignore - if addressed, can it be shown?] |
*130 | 136 | PB, if you know who that is, could not get home. | PB, if you know who that is, Silly. could not get home. [I really like this joke, personally, and would love to see it make it into the next edition. This is the first letter that is to Priscilla and mentions PB - she would be four and a half at this time and her first introduction to PB. Joke continues below in #133, #134, and #138 Also this is an instance where preserving “PB” as written makes sense, rather than transcribing as “Polar Bear”] |
131 | 136 | We had to make a tunnel to the front door. | You can see the tunnel we had to make to the front door. |
132 | 136 | and there is steam where the snow is melting | but you can see steam where the snow is melting |
*133 | 137 | Poor old PB, if you know who I mean, had to go away soon after the snow began last month. | Poor old PB, if you know who I mean, Silly again. had to go away soon after the snow began last month. |
*134 | 140 | PB, if you remember him, did not get back | PB, if you remember him, Silly again. did not get back |
135 | 140 | until Friday December 13th | until Friday December the 13th |
136 | 140 | seen the last of the goblins | seen the last of the goblins |
137 | 140 | It is now December 24th and they have not | It is now December 24 and they have not |
*138 | 140 | Polar Bear (in case you don’t know what PB is) sends love to you | Polar Bear (in case you don’t know what PB is) Stupid joke. sends love to you |
139 | 148 | by Saturday (December 19th) | by Saturday last (Dec 19) |
140 | 148 | you can guess what happened | you can see what happened |
141 | 148 | Father Christmas was really angry. | Father Christmas was really angry. |
142 | 149 | [not transcribed] | You will find two snapshots in this letter. Give them back to your Mother. I hoped she has not missed them. One of my elves borrowed them. You will find out what for. Yrs F.C. |
143 | [deleted as erroneous duplicate] | ||
*144 | 149 | [CHIM / NEY / POST Envelope reproduction] | [Does not belong here - also reproduced on page 94 - it currently appears twice in the 2019 edition] |
*144a | 152 | [partially obscured reproduction of Nov 2nd envelope] | [possible to show the entire envelope for completeness?] |
144b | 154 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
145 | 154 | other old friends in Oxford | other old friends at 20 Northmoor Road, Oxford |
146 | 157 | You see I strained my hand moving heavy boxes in the cellars in November | You see I strained my hand moving heavy boxes in the 'sellers' (ha ha Chris: you see I have read your letter) in November |
147 | 158 | drawing is a bit scratchy, I think. He won't use paints | drawing is a bit scratchy, I think. He has done you what he calls a picture diary. I hope it will do. He won't use paints |
148 | 158 | I am sending away loads | I am sending away loads |
149 | 158 | Oxford Fairy Story | Oxford fairy-story |
150 | 158 | Polar Bear, as usual, was late | Polar Bear, as usual, was late |
151 | 158 | and actually had rain. | and actually had rain. |
152 | 160 | - you are in it. North Polar Bear | - you are in it, that is why your numbers are on the board. North Polar Bear |
153 | 162 | You are not a decoration | You are not a decoration |
154 | 162 | The silly old thing had rested the ladder | The silly old thing Neither. had rested the ladder |
155 | 162 | Polar Bear fell into the tree | Polar Bear fell into the tree |
*156 | 163 | and you would never read it. | and you would never read it: it says “A very merry Christmas to you all” [I think this small correction, making it clear that the Tengwar actually says this quote, is important. I confirmed with Carl Hostetter the translation from tengwar is correct.] |
157 | 163 | [runes are missing] | [Polar Bear Runes] That is Runick. |
158 | 163 | with lovely thick pen | with lovely thick pen |
158a | 164 | Cliff House, | Cliff House. |
159 | 167 | has no rhyme to Father Christmas | has no rhyme to Father Christmas |
160 | 167 | either won’t rhyme neither | either won’t rhyme neither |
*161 | 167 | Fill up your stocking, (I’ve an inkling | Fill up your stocking, (I’ve an inkling [note no italics on first half of first line] Had to help Fr. C. out here. Ilbereth |
162 | 173 | They’re moving south, and getting bold, | They’re moving south, and getting bold, |
163 | 174 | Christmas Day | Christmas Day. Postscript by Ilbereth |
164 | 174 | Absolute ROT: | Absolute ROT: |
165 | 178 | This is the last Beatrix Potter | This is the last Beatrix Potter |
166 | 178 | perhaps something after Christmas | perhaps something after Christmas |
166a | 180 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
167 | 180 | over the crackers I am sending. | over the crackers I am sending. I am afraid there is no Basil coming. I have not got any small Bingos left! But I am sending a lovely clean aunt GILLY (which is short for Juliana) who will keep Milly in order I hope, or take her place if she does not improve. I hope all the other things are what you want. |
168 | 182 | living only on warm water for a fortnight | living only on warm water for a fortnight |
169 | 185 | He drew the trees in the picture | He drew the trees in the picture |
170 | 185 | They look more like umbrellas! | They look more like umbrellas? |
170a | 187 | December 23rd 1940 | Monday Dec 23 1940 |
171 | 187 | Ar having verry DIFFICULT time this year but ar doing my our best. | Ar having verry DIFFICULT time this year but ar doing our best. |
171a | 188 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
*171b | 188 | [“Xmas 1940” Envelope verso not reproduced] | [The verso of this envelope with wax seal was previously reproduced in the 1999 edition on page 140] |
172 | 190 | The picture is of Polar Bear dancing with their chiefs. | This is a picture of Polar Bear dancing with their chiefs. |
173 | 190 | all the books you asked for. I hope your stocking will seem full! | all the books you asked for. I could not get the pamphlets in time. Perhaps your father could get them for you? All the same I hope your stocking will seem full! |
173a | 192 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
174 | 192 | We have had several battles, | We have had several battles, |
175 | 195 | they suddenly came out in thousands. Polar Bear says there were at least a million, | they suddenly came out in thousands. Polar Bear says there were at least a million, |
176 | 195 | There wer at leest a hundred million. | There wer at leest a hundred million OK |
177 | 196 | I have not had to blow it for over 4 hundred years: | I have not had to blow it for ... (There now: I was interrupted and it is now Christmas Eve, and I don't know when I shall get finished!) ... over 4 hundred years: [Tolkien Collector #31, p. 36 has “There Now!” but the colon seems much more likely in the manuscript.] |
177a | 197 | Allison Uttley | Allison Utterly [sic] |
178 | 198 | because there have been such exciting | because there has been such exciting |
179 | 199 | any kind of bear is a relation. | any kind of bear is a relation. |
180 | 199 | from your old friend Father Christmas | from your old friends Father Christmas |
181 | 199 | a really good bomb | a really good bomb |
182 | 199 | wot a really good exploashion | wot a really good explosion [the a and h are crossed out - other examples of Tolkien correcting mistakes with crossouts were edited out of transcripts, but I think it ok to keep the bad spelling - not clear who made the corrections - perhaps done later?] |
182a | 200 | Cliff House, | Cliff House. |
*182b | 200 | Polar Bear tells me that he cannot find my letter from you | Polar Bear tells me that he cannot find any letter from you |
183 | 200 | so full of empty places (as Polar Bear says). | so full of empty places (as Polar Bear says although he is not an Irish bear). |
*183a | 202 | [Envelope “XMAS 1942” verso with wax seal partially obscured] | [Was fully reproduced in 1999 edition p. 151 and the 2009 edition p. 155] |
183b | 203 | polar cubs (Paksu and Valkotukka, of course, among them) | polar cubs (V & T of course among them) [the transcribed names seem to be what Tolkien meant, and he just made a mistake with the initials in the letter. Note also there are no commas in the manuscript.] |
184 | 203 | well not exactly to you (he said) | well not exactly to you (he said) |
185 | 203 | does he eat gunpowder? | does he eat gunpowder? |
185a | 205 | Cliff House, | Cliff House |
186 | 205 | I shall not forget you. | I shall not forget you. |
187 | 205 | I fear, in very many places where I was especially fond of going; but I am | I fear, in very many places where I was especially fond of going (like Germany); but I am |
*188 | 206 | [Envelope verso not reproduced] | [This envelope verso with three wax seals is reproduced in the 1999 edition on p. 155] |