Illustrated Tolkien Gift Editions

A lovely edition of Tolkien’s works are the illustrated editions. While absolutely stunning editions, they are slightly impractical for reading purposes. They are not only in hardback, but larger format hardback. Due to the type of paper used (in part, or due the illustrations), combined with the size, they are also quite heavy. These minor things aside, they are among the most treasured editions of the works since they were published, remain, so, and most likely always be that way.


First up (in written / original publication order) we have the illustrated edition of The Hobbit, published to celebrate the book’s 60th anniversary. Alan Lee did the artwork; including the dustjacket.


 Of course, next is The Lord of the Rings. It’s in a 3-volume hardback box set, which can be weighty and pricy. There are three of these books, after all. You get the complete matching set, and the box is nothing to shrug off, in the attraction department. [though if the box set is sold out and you have to get the 3 volumes individually, it’s no big loss, but a worth-while extra]. Alan Lee also did the artwork for these, as well as the box.





Finally, is The Silmarillion. This time, Ted Nasmith was commissioned to do the artwork. This will match the others I’ve listed above, and fit in quite well on the shelf in relation to them.

Please note, these editions are published by Houghton Mifflin, the US / American publisher of Tolkien. They are identical (save for the publishing house, of course) to the UK editions, except they are slightly cheaper, and much easier to find.


Here are the ISBNs:


The Hobbit: 9780395873465
The Fellowship of the Ring: 9780618260515
The Two Towers: 9780618260591
The Return of the King: 9780618260553
The Lord of the Rings [3 volume box set] : 9780618260584
The Silmarillion: 9780618391110

Comments

insurrbution said…
Update via post...sort of.

Here are links that let you 'see' the books in really good detail. Kudos to Pieter / Tolkien Library for his efforts. Please note, that on his site, the links I'll provide, there will be signatures in those copies he's displaying. If you order the books (unless they're directly through Tolkien Library, or otherwise indicated as signed, they won't be signed. I'm giving these links for you to see the books themselves.

The Hobbit: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/001241.htm [the copy shown is signed]

The Lord of the Rings: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/CLP0079.htm [also signed here by Alan Lee]
[more here, incl. the back covers: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/001020.htm ]


The Silmarillion: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/tolkien-book-store/000778.htm [signed by Ted Nasmith. Please note, that this is a copy by harper Collins. Aside from the fact it's a diffferent book, see how close in style it is to the Houghton Mifflin editions of Hobbit & LotR?]
February 10, 2016 at 9:26:00 PM EST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tolkien Signature Paperback Collection: Master Listing

Image
  Recently, HarperCollins has been re-issuing most of the Tolkien titles in a new paperback style. Since that a vast majority of these share ISBNs with other covers, eventually the older covers will be replaced with the new. I wanted to provide head's up for that. If ordered via Amazon UK, Blackwell's, or Waterstones, you'll very likely have the newer/Signature cover. If possible, it may be best to actually visit  the bookstore so you can see which one they actually have on their shelves.   This post is a Master Post, collecting ISBNs of the titles released in this style. I have made them into 'groups' or 'sets' for ease of reference, as well as possibly assist in purchasing them, if one were to get more than one book at once. Over the course of time, this post will get updated. Once a new title comes to this format, I'll do a separate blog post focusing on that title; and provide it's ISBN, cover art, and description. Enough of these have come out t...
Read more

An Update

Image
So I bet you're wondering how The Saga of Kalvel is coming.  It's going well, but slow. I'm not putting into as much time writing the series as I'd like. It's still being thought of in my head, and I'm only able to get to it part time, but I'm still planning and writing at the same time. This weekend I'm hoping to binge through some.  I'm working on the third chapter for one character, and would like to start the first chapter for another character. I begun as early as Dec. 2011, and my deadline is August of 2016, but so far I have approx about 40 completed manuscript pages that I'm thinking of going back to until the first draft is completely done.  Now. That's manuscript pages.  If I were total everything I'd ever written about Kalvel, it would be closer to around 100 (give or takr about 15 either direction, some things are in various states.) I've said before and again that the most difficult vo...
Read more