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\def\invite #1:#2\par#3\par{\message{#1:#2}\global\advance\count1 by 1
Hermann Zapf and I would like to invite you to contribute to a somewhat
unusual book that I am currently preparing for publication.
The book is tentatively entitled
\dd\vcenter{\hbox{3\thinspace:\thinspace16, an approach to Bible study}
\hbox{with sixty examples of fine calligraphy from around the world}}\dd
and we hope that it will be a truly beautiful as well as thought-provoking
volume.

I have enclosed a draft copy of the book's Foreword, which explains that
the basic idea is to choose more-or-less random verses from the Bible
and to study them in depth. Each of these verses will be illustrated
by a page of calligraphy. Hermann has helped me choose the calligraphers who
are being invited to contribute illustrations.

I have also enclosed a draft of a sample chapter.
This sample shows the general layout that will be used for each of the
chapters (one chapter for each book of the Bible).
One of the four pages in each chapter will be devoted to calligraphy.
Since each Bible verse is different, each illustration will be done in
a style that is uniquely suited to its specific verse. The book will be
enhanced by having a wide variety of styles on the calligraphic pages.

The verse that I would like you to contribute to this collection is
described at the end of this letter. I hope that you will find it
an interesting challenge to discover the best visual interpretation
of these words. But if you do not wish to participate, please let me know
as soon as possible, so that I can assign the verse to someone else.

I don't have an enormous budget to support this project or to compensate you
fully for your time, but I do plan to pay \$200.00 for the rights to reproduce
each illustration used in the book.
You will retain all other rights to your work, and I will
return the original art to you. (Perhaps there will also be a
show in which all of the originals are exhibited; if so, I will take care
of the material until the exhibition is over.) Naturally, you will also
receive a complimentary copy of the book when it is finished.

The enclosed sample chapter illustrates the exact final trim size of the book,
although there will be a little more space in the middle to account
for binding. As you can see, the calligraphed Bible verses
should more-or-less fit in an area that is 5\frac1/2 inches (14\thinspace cm)
square, final size, with a caption below.
Your original drawings can be larger, if you want them to
be photographically reduced before printing.

The calligraphy isn't necessarily expected to fill a square. Some examples
will be vertical, some horizontal, some circular or triangular, etc.;
but they shouldn't extend much beyond the 5\frac1/2\thinspace-inch
square region that has been allocated for artwork. You needn't worry
that your work might be too small; white space usually looks good!
A problem will occur only if an illustration is too large.

Your artwork need not be entirely in black and white;
but I have decided to limit the use of color, so that the book will not be
too expensive. The sample chapter illustrates what will be possible: Besides
black, there is also a nice red ink (used to set `The Gospel of John'),
and a blue-green (used for the Bible verse inside). These colors can
either be solid or printed as halftones, separately or in combination.
For example, the red letters on the sample calligraphy page have been
darkened by superimposing a black halftone. The book
{\it International Calligraphy Today\/} provides further examples of what
I have in mind: Some pages of that book are beautiful just in black and
white; others have been rendered in the best way with two colors
of line art; still others are perfectly suited to black-and-white halftones;
some have halftones in two colors.
I expect that my book will include examples of all these types,
depending on what is most appropriate for each verse.
Color should be used only when it really helps!

Besides black, red, and blue-green, you also have the option of adding the
light cream color that has been used as a background to the lettering on
the enclosed sample.  This will make it appear as if your verse had been
written on a piece of parchment.

Of course I cannot promise in advance to include all of the artwork that
is submitted. Some illustrations may not fit well with the overall designs
made by the other participants; for example, one piece might be too
similar to others that have already been accepted.  If for some reason I
decide not to use what you submit, I will return it to you with a check
for \$200.00 plus your mailing expenses; but I must reserve the right to
make the final decision about what will be in the book.

\ifbloc I have no experience in trying to send money to your country,
but I hope it will not be difficult. Hermann says he thinks there will
be no problem if I send American dollars to your artists' organization,
so that they can take care of the financial details.\global\blocfalse\fi

Please let me know if you would like to participate. I have enclosed
a self-addressed postcard for your convenience in replying.

\nobreak\bigskip \leftskip=\longindentation Sincerely,
    \nobreak\bigskip\bigskip\bigskip % space for signature
Donald E. Knuth\hfil\break
Professor
\bigskip
\leftskip=0pt
\halign{##\hfil\ &##\hfil\cr
Enclosures:&(1) Draft of the Foreword to 3\thinspace:\thinspace16\cr
&(2) Sample chapter, illustrated by Hermann Zapf\cr
&(3) Reply postcard\cr}

P.S.: If I haven't heard from you within six weeks, I shall have to
assume that your answer is `no'; I'll want to reassign this particular verse
as soon as possible, because I haven't sent it to anybody else!

\vfill\eject
\null\bigskip\hrule
\bigskip\bigskip
\line{\largebf #1\thinspace:\thinspace#2\hfil\largerm(special
translation for my book)}
\bigskip
{\baselineskip=14pt\bible#3\par}
\bigskip
Please use your own judgment about how to interpret these words visually,
and how to arrange them on the page;
but I would like this specific wording and punctuation to be retained.
You may include the title of the verse, if it helps to balance your
composition, but it is not necessary to do this because the title will appear
in the caption. Please do not incorporate your own name as part of the artwork.

}
% temporary letter for revised text

\def\invite #1:#2\par#3\par{\message{#1:#2}\global\advance\count1 by 1
A month ago I wrote you a letter inviting you to contribute to my book
about the 3\thinspace:\thinspace16s of the Bible. Meanwhile I have
continued to write the book, and I discovered as I got to the chapter
on 1\thinspace Chronicles that my translation of that verse was not
the best way to put it in English.

Furthermore, I learned that my previous idea about including a list of the
Kings of Judah was not really very good, because it doesn't clarify the
most probable meaning of the verse after all. Therefore your job
becomes much, much  simpler!

I'm not sure whether you have aleady replied to my letter, since
mail takes awhile to travel overseas; and I'm not sure whether you
will want to participate in this project or not. But I am writing
to you now, so that you have the correct text for the illustration,
just in case you have already begun to work on this.

The new, improved material for 1\thinspace Chronicles appears
on the next page. Please use it instead of the text I sent in my
first letter, if you do decide to contribute to this unusual book.

Hermann visited me yesterday. We are both very happy that the
responses received so far have been overwhelmingly positive.
This should be an exciting book!

\nobreak\bigskip \leftskip=\longindentation Sincerely,
    \nobreak\bigskip\bigskip\bigskip % space for signature
Donald E. Knuth\hfil\break
Professor

\leftskip=0pt
\vfill\eject
\null\bigskip\hrule
\bigskip\bigskip
\line{\largebf #1\thinspace:\thinspace#2\hfil\largerm(special
translation for my book---corrected)}
\bigskip
{\baselineskip=14pt\bible#3\par}
\bigskip
As I said before,
please use your own judgment about how to interpret these words visually,
and how to arrange them on the page;
but I would like this specific wording and punctuation to be retained.
You may include the title of the verse, if it helps to balance your
composition, but it is not necessary to do this because the title will appear
in the caption. Please do not incorporate your own name as part of the artwork.

}
% 1 Chronicles
\deklet \vskip 30pt \address
Prof.~Werner Schneider
Am Langen Land, 2.
D-5928 Bad Laasphe, WEST GERMANY

\body

Dear Prof.~Schneider,

\invite 1 Chronicles 3:16

The descendants of Jehoiakim were:$
Jeconiah, his son; Zedekiah, his son.

[Also, please forget the suggestion in my previous letter about listing
the Kings of Judah. It is best to let this verse stand alone.]