July 13, 2025
  • Home
  • Default
  • Tolkien Collectible Book Sets Are Up For Preorder -earth
Tolkien Collectible Book Sets Are Up For Preorder  -earth

Tolkien Collectible Book Sets Are Up For Preorder -earth

By on May 25, 2025 0 21 Views

GameSpot might garner revenue from affiliate and promotional agreements for disseminating this content and from transactions via links.

4499599 mythsandlegends

4499598 greattalesofmiddle

Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien will soon be able to enhance their collection with two visually appealing book box sets. Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set, featuring lesser-known original works alongside translations of classic English literature, releases on June 10. Following this, on August 19, new editions of The Great Tales of Middle-earth, which includes the last three prose novels set within Tolkien’s renowned fantasy universe, will be launched. These new hardcover box sets boast intricate cover art and display cases. They are regarded as the fifth and sixth installments in a series of hardcover book box sets that commenced last year with The History of Middle-earth, published by William Morrow, which was released in its entirety across four exquisite collections.

Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (2025)

$125 | Releases June 10

4499599 mythsandlegends

The Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set is a distinctive collection of J.R.R. Tolkien’s creations, as it excludes narratives about Middle-earth. Rather, as suggested by the title, it assembles timeless myths and legends, two of which were crafted by the author, while the remaining two were personal translations of some of

his preferred pieces that motivated him.

Similar to the large number of his posthumously released works, these were assembled and refined by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Each hardcover volume features a double-sided dust jacket. Much like The History of Middle-earth Box Sets, one side showcases intricate illustrations, whereas the opposite displays a more understated design with solid hues. The four volumes are presented in a striking display case.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Orfeo / Pearl: Translations of a trio of timeless epic poems paired with Tolkien’s renowned 1953 lecture on Sir Gawain.

The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: An epic narrative poem by Tolkien, influenced by classical poetry and Norse legends. Alongside Tolkien’s writing, you’ll discover extensive notes and commentary by Christopher Tolkien.

The Fall of Arthur: A narrative poem crafted by Tolkien that narrates the final days of King Arthur. This volume incorporates extensive notes made by Tolkien during the creation of his sole Arthurian epic. Admirers of The Silmarillion will find this particularly engaging, as it evidently influenced the storyline of Tolkien’s Arthurian-like Middle-earth narrative.

Beowulf: One of the most renowned—and the earliest recognized—epic poems of Old English literature, Beowulf has undergone numerous translations. Tolkien composed his translation in 1926 and later revisited it. This volume not only includes the translation of the original poem but also a multitude of insights by Tolkien himself, providing readers with a peek into the scholarly mind of Tolkien.

If you’re intrigued by the Myths and Legends Box Set, you should also explore The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, a substantial three-volume hardcover set released last fall. This stunning box set, currently available at almost 50% off, compiles Tolkien’s lifetime achievements as a poet and encompasses over 1,700 pages.

The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025)

$125 | Releases August 19

4499598 greattalesofmiddle

The Great Tales of Middle-earth is an essential read for all devoted admirers of The Lord of the Rings. While understandably not as widely recognized as The Hobbit, LOTR, or even The Silmarillion, the trio of narratives in this set are the concluding segments of prose fiction that transpire within the author’s iconic, vibrant fantasy realm. All of the tales unfold during the First Age of Middle-earth, making them the oldest complete narratives in this universe, despite being written and published after Tolkien’s earlier works.

The new 2025 hardcover editions include reversible dust jackets and showcase special color illustrations, pencil sketches, and illustrated maps created by Christopher Tolkien and the beloved LOTR artist Alan Lee.

Here are the three volumes you will uncover within the exquisite display case, featuring a fire-breathing dragon.

The Children of Húrin (2007): Composed after The Silmarillion as an independent prequel tale, The Children of Húrin occurs 6,000 years prior to the events of LOTR. The plot centers around the cursed son of Húrin, called Túrin, during a time of relentless conflict and widespread destruction caused by the Dark Lord Morgoth. If you’re familiar with The Silmarillion, you will recognize some of the names present in this narrative.

Beren and Lúthien (2017): Another ancient tale situated in Middle-earth, Beren and Lúthien was reworked and refined over the years and eventually became part of The Silmarillion. This compilation of Lúthien and Beren’s narrative was initially published in 2017. It illustrates the development of the love story between the mortal man Beren and the immortal elf Lúthien.

The Fall of Gondolin (2018): Founded by King Turgon, the eponymous elf city was hidden for many years before Lord Morgoth’s mission to eliminate elven existence across Middle-earth. The protagonist of The Fall of Gondolin is Túrin’s cousin, Tuor, along with his family. Tuor is married to Turgon’s daughter, Idril. The narrative follows their attempts to rescue their offspring after Gondolin (predictably) falls.

It’s noteworthy that The Great Tales of Middle-earth is already accessible as a hardcover box set. Although it may not rival Myths and Legends or the four History of Middle-earth Box Sets, the 2018 hardcover collection is available for just $50 (was $100) on Amazon. Alternatively, you may acquire each volume separately in either hardcover or paperback.

The Great Tales of Middle-earth Editions:

4474422 greattalesofmiddle earth

The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Sets (2024)

J.R.R. Tolkien - The History of Middle-earth Box Sets (2024)
J.R.R. Tolkien – The History of Middle-earth Box Sets (2024)

The History of Middle-earth was initially released over a 14-year period from 1983 to 1996. During his creation of the fantasy universe, Tolkien documented extensively, crafting a backstory for Middle-earth spanning three distinct ages and over 6,500 years. One could claim that the author’s commitment to shaping the backdrop that would evolve into a pair of iconic fantasy novels transformed Middle-earth into the most credible character he crafted. His mythopoeic writings established what is often known as Tolkien’s legendarium.

Upon Tolkien’s passing in 1973, the comprehensive backstory of Middle-earth lay unpublished. In the following years, his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, undertook the formidable task of editing, expanding, and assembling the legendarium into publishable volumes. This legendarium ultimately transformed into a 12-volume series titled The History of Middle-earth.

Although The Silmarillion is now incorporated in modern editions of the series–it’s Book 1 in the latest box sets–the collection of myths was first brought to light in 1977. Had it been up to Tolkien, The Silmarillion would have been released following The Hobbit. When his publisher rejected the manuscript, Tolkien shifted focus to the narrative that would become The Lord of the Rings.

Throughout the years, he persistently revised and expanded The Silmarillion. Earlier drafts and evolving tales written while reworking the manuscript would contribute crucial elements to his legendarium. Therefore, The History of Middle-earth, in part, illustrates Tolkien’s evolution as a worldbuilder. This is why The Silmarillion is featured as the initial book in The History of Middle-earth. To truly appreciate the extensive character study of Middle-earth, it’s advisable to explore the interconnected myths within The Silmarillion.

For the 2024 hardcover box set releases, publisher William Morrow reorganized The History of Middle-earth into 15 individual books, including the indispensable reference Index. This series represents a substantial endeavor, as it encompasses 5,328 pages across its 15 volumes. With Amazon’s current pricing, you can acquire all four box sets for $262 (previously $475), yielding a savings of over $200.

Explore all four of the 2024 Middle-earth box sets below. An alternative to the 15-book collection is the robust three-volume hardcover set released in 2020. Totalling 5,440 pages–over 1,800 pages per book–

The Complete History of Middle-earth Box Set is an elegant, exquisitely crafted trio of hardcovers that can be purchased for $138 (previously $250). To get a glimpse of what the series presents, there’s a five-volume paperback box set priced at $28 (originally $50).

The History of Middle-earth Box Set 1 (Hardcover)

$63.37 (previously $125)

4499933 historyofmiddle

The History of Middle-earth Box Set 1 contains four hardcover volumes featuring reversible dust jackets enriched with stunning new landscape illustrations. For those who prefer a “more subdued” aesthetic, the reverse side showcases traditional artwork on solid color backgrounds. Each dust jacket boasts distinct primary shades, regardless of which side you choose for display, creating a distinct and appealing look.

The History of Middle-earth Box Set 1 debuted in February 2024 and is currently offered at about 50% off on Amazon. Collectively, the four volumes listed below amount to 1,536 pages.

  • The Silmarillion
  • Unfinished Tales
  • Book of Lost Tales, Part I
  • Book of Lost Tales, Part II

Additional J.R.R. Tolkien Book Box Sets

The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Illustrated Box Set (2024)
The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Illustrated Box Set (2024)

William Morrow’s latest hardcover box sets with reversible covers are hardly the sole remarkable Tolkien collections deserving of attention. The Lord of the Rings series has seen numerous different box sets emerge over the years, including an exceptional premium edition last fall. The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Illustrated Box Set revitalized the beloved 1992 collection featuring illustrations by Alan Lee. Encompassing over 50 new illustrations and artworks, silver foil-stamped covers, and a unique cloth-leather binding, these editions are indeed a visual treat. The foil-stamped clothboard display case showcases all three parts of The Lord of the Rings along with three exclusive art cards and two foldout maps by Christopher Tolkien.

The LOTR Deluxe Illustrated Box Set debuted with a staggering $325 price tag, yet Amazon is currently offering it for $146—a discount of 55% ($179).

The Deluxe Illustrated Box Set was not the only collectible LOTR edition launched last year. William Morrow also released affordable Collector’s Editions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. The three segments of LOTR were later compiled into one attractive Collector’s Edition Box Set. Every volume in the hardcover Collector’s Edition series features stained edges, foil-stamped cover designs, a ribbon bookmark, and maps as endpapers. All five Collector’s Editions are individually available for around $20 or less.


The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion – Illustrated by Tolkien

Tolkien Illustrated Editions.
Tolkien Illustrated Editions.

Though not collections, we’d be neglectful if we didn’t bring up the Tolkien Illustrated Editions when talking about collectible manifestations of Tolkien’s masterpieces. Each of these exquisite hardcover volumes showcases illustrations, sketches, and paintings crafted by Tolkien himself as he developed Middle-earth with his prose. The tomes are adorned with foil-embossed covers, dyed page edges featuring elvish script, a ribbon bookmark, and a set of detachable maps.

Deluxe Special Editions of Tolkien Illustrated volumes for The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings come with cloth board bindings featuring quarterbound ribbed leather, clothbound slipcases, an art card, and an illustrated booklet.


Additional Tolkien Book Promotions

4500198 thesilmarillion

The compilation below features offers on various editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and beyond. A notable mention is The Silmarillion Special Edition, released in 2021, which pairs seamlessly with The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set. This foil-embellished, clothbound edition features a slipcase adorned with unique artwork and includes a set of full-color posters.


4379683 tolkienmodule

The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit Films

The Lord of the Rings Steelbook Editions
The Lord of the Rings Steelbook Editions

Fans of The Lord of the Rings should also explore the recent Steelbook Editions of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Previously accessible solely as part of the expensive Limited Edition Trilogy Box Set, the initial two films in Peter Jackson’s remarkable adaptation can be preordered for $29 each prior to their May 27 launch. We anticipate a standalone 4K Blu-ray of The Return of the King with a corresponding steelbook forthcoming. You can still purchase the Steelbook Trilogy Set, but it will set you back $174, which is over $100 more than the regular edition 4K box set ($68).

The Hobbit Trilogy has also been released as a Limited Edition Steelbook set, which Walmart currently lists for $128. Nonetheless, The Hobbit’s standard 4K Blu-ray compilation is available for only $43 at the moment.

A collection encompassing The LOTR and The Hobbit trilogies was launched earlier this year. The Middle-earth 6-film Collection is the sole 4K box set that also includes the 1080p Blu-ray remasters. This is significant because the audio commentary bonus features are exclusive to the Blu-ray discs, thus not available when purchasing the trilogies separately in 4K. Digital copies of each film are also included. The theatrical and extended versions are provided across all three media formats.

The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit Trilogies on 4K Blu-ray


LOTR Animated Films

The Lord of the Rings Animated Feature | The War of the Rohirrim anime
The Lord of the Rings Animated Feature | The War of the Rohirrim anime

The initial animated rendition of The Lord of the Rings is available for just $5 at Amazon. You can combine it with the animated versions of The Hobbit and Return of the King. The Hobbit’s animated movie had a Deluxe Edition re-release last year, making the price more reasonable now. The latest animated addition to the series, The War of the Rohirrim, debuted in various formats earlier this year. The anime’s 4K Blu-ray version is out of stock at Amazon, but you can purchase a copy for $20 at Walmart. The 1080p Blu-ray version is reduced to $13 at Amazon and

Walmart.


LOTR & The Hobbit Series on Blu-ray

The 1080p Blu-ray versions of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are typically far less expensive than their 4K counterparts. For example, you can purchase the Middle-earth 6-Film Theatrical Collection on Blu-ray for a mere $30 at Amazon. It is important to mention that all North American Blu-ray editions distinctively separate the theatrical cuts from the extended versions. Nonetheless, a region-free import of The Middle-earth 6-Film Collection is available for $90, including this 30-disc 1080p set which contains both theatrical and extended cuts.

Have a news tip or wish to connect with us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Read More

  Default
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *