Unfinished Tales 40th Anniversary Illustrated Limited Edition Revealed

The artwork for the Unfinished Tales 40th Anniversary Illustrated Slipcased Collector's Edition has *finally* been revealed!

From the looks of things:

- Ted Nasmith's 'The Blue Wizards Journeying East' is being used for the illustrated slipcase
- John Howe's Black Rider (rear of the standard edition dustjacket) is used on the cover of the book
- Chances are, Alan Lee's new illustration of the Numenorean ship will be used as a (foldout?) frontispiece. (Typically, whatever image the dustjacket of the standard edition uses is replicated as a frontispiece with its corresponding slipcasd collector's edition.)

Remember, this is a UK edition, so you're best off ordering off Blackwell's, Waterstones, or The Book Depository.

ISBN: 9780008387969

"Sumptuous, 40th anniversary collector’s edition of this collection of tales which takes readers further into the stories told in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, featuring 18 full-colour paintings depicting scenes from the First, Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth, and housed in a matching illustrated slipcase.

Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories.

The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as The Quest of Erebor, Gandalf’s lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End; the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand; and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.

Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Númenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantíri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were edited by Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father’s writings.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, this new edition features 18 stunning paintings from critically acclaimed Tolkien artists, Alan Lee, John Howe & Ted Nasmith, which reveal the three Ages of Middle-earth like never before. This special collector’s edition is printed on superior quality paper, features a unique special binding and ribbon marker and is housed in a custom-made, fully illustrated slipcase."

And more info:

"Featuring 18 stunning paintings and five pencil drawings from critically acclaimed Tolkien artists, Alan Lee, John Howe & Ted Nasmith, it celebrates the three Ages of Middle-earth like never before. This clothbound collector’s edition is printed in two colours on heavyweight acid-free paper, with a ribbon marker, and is housed in a custom-made, fully illustrated slipcase. It also includes not one but two removable foldout posters printed in full colour that are exclusive to this special edition. Limited to a worldwide first printing of just 4,000 copies, this will be an item to treasure and one which does full justice to J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical text so masterfully edited by his son, Christopher."