1968; Henry Regnery Company publishers, Chicago; hardbound in ebony boards with gilt stamp lettering along spine; quite good condition with unmarked pages; no dust jacket.
 
Description -
The Tolkien Relation: A Personal Inquiry is a book by William Ready, the former Director of Libraries at Marquette University. The paperback edition of 1969 was renamed into Understanding Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings.  This book is the hardback 1st edition.
 
The book includes extracts from letters to William Ready from both J.R.R. Tolkien and his son Christopher, as well as some unattributed quotes. See especially pp. 55-56 and 57-60.