Annual Tolkien Book Recommendations

 



Some things never change.....I keep recommending a few specific editions of some of the Tolkien books ahead of Christmas. This year, the post arrives on Hobbit Day.

Before I begin, there's no 'right or wrong' edition: it comes down to preference. What's perfect for you?? (or, the person you may be buying for). I do these posts to say "Hey, check these ones out."

As a refresher, here they are:



The Hobbit

Fantastic 'starter edition' in paperback

ISBN: 9780007458424



The Hobbit (Special 75th Anniversary Edition)

This would look great with pretty much other Tolkien hardbacks. Fairly standard edition.

ISBN: 9780007487301



The Hobbit (illustrated by Jemima Catlin)

Takes the 'children's story' vibe, and runs with it. Great artwork that younger fans will definitely appreciate.

ISBN: 9780007497904



The Lord of the Rings (Illustrated Slipcased Edition by Alan Lee)

'Big Blue' looks great next to pretty much any Tolkien book. With minor aesthetic and size differences, this could be seen as a 1-book alternative to the 2020 3-part illustrated editions. (which follow further down the post)

ISBN: 9780007525546



The Lord of the Rings (Single-Volume Illustrated Edition)

This is the newest item in this blog post, and will likely be a hot seller.

ISBN: 9780008471286

Some Rarities:



The Children of Hurin collector's edition by Houghton Mifflin

The collector's edition by this publisher only got three print runs, and none of the other two Great Tales (Beren and Luthien and The Fall of Gondolin) were published in this format by them, making it a kind of collectible oddity.

ISBN: 9780618904419



The Fall of Arthur paperback

When The Fall of Arthur first came to paperback by HarperCollins, its size didn't match their other Tolkien paperbacks.

ISBN: 9780007489961



Beowulf paperback.

Like The Fall of Arthur above, when Beowulf first appeared in paperback by HarperCollins, its size didn't match their other Tolkien paperbacks.

ISBN: 9780008116583

If you want matching editions, check these out:

New Hardback Series


No photo description available.

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings ISBN: 9780008376109 (illustrated by Alan Lee)


May be an image of text that says 'J.R.R. TOLKIEN Edited by CHRISTOPHER TOLKIEN THE SILMARILLION With illustrations by TED NASMITH'

The Silmarillion ISBN: 9780008433949 (illustrated by Ted Nasmith)


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Unfinished Tales ISBN: 9780008387952 (illustrated by Ted Nasmith, Alan Lee, and John Howe)



The Nature of Middle-earth ISBN: 9780008387921


No photo description available.

The Children of Hurin ISBN: 9780007246229 (illustrated by Alan Lee)


No photo description available.

Beren and Luthien ISBN: 9780008214197 (illustrated by Alan Lee)


No photo description available.

The Fall of Gondolin ISBN: 9780008302757 (illustrated by Alan Lee)

May be an image of text that says 'J.R.R. TOLKIEN TALES FROM THE PERILOUS REALM Illustrated by ALAN LEE'

Tales From the Perilous Realm ISBN:  9780008453343 (illustrated by Alan Lee)


Middle-earth Library (Classic Hardback Editions)


No photo description available.

The Hobbit ISBN: 9780261103283



The Lord of the Rings ISBN: 9780007581146


No photo description available.

The Silmarillion ISBN: 9780261102422

No photo description available.

Unfinished Tales ISBN: 9780261102156

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