The $325 Lord Of The Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set Is Only $146 For A Limited Time

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is a refreshed edition of a stunning anthology first introduced in 1992. Encompassing the three hardcover volumes—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—there are over 50 new pencil drawings and full-color artworks by the cherished Lord of the Rings artist Alan Lee. Overall, the box set comprises 1,332 pages, making it longer than most, if not all, editions of LOTR currently available.

The page edges are tinted dark blue on the top and bottom, while the side edges feature distinctive illustrations of swirling smoke from Mount Doom’s eruption. Lee also designed new art for the covers. Each cover showcases a central framed rectangular illustration. These images are inlaid on gray cloth board and bordered with a sophisticated, silver foil-stamped edge. Each book is bound in blue leather, and the pages are stitched into the spine. A ribbon bookmark is provided for marking your page.

The silver foil text on the spine and the covers was stamped onto every volume. The custom display case is crafted from cloth board and includes stamped circular motifs designed by Lee. The case features rounded front edges to facilitate the removal of each book. When all three books are extracted, one can view the fully illustrated interior of the case. Lee’s portrayal of Mount Doom’s eruption adorns all surfaces within the meticulously designed slipcase.

Inside every volume, a large art card is present that can be removed and

shown individually. In addition to three art cards, you receive a duo of foldout maps of Middle-earth created by Christopher Tolkien, the author’s literary steward who curated, elaborated, and arranged numerous supplementary texts regarding Middle-earth, such as The Silmarillion and his body of work, which constituted the extensive 12-volume series now referred to as The History of Middle-earth.

To clarify, The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated is significantly different from the well-received 2021 edition illustrated by Tolkien, but the high-quality presentation is reminiscent of the Deluxe Special Edition of the Tolkien Illustrated version.

While the savings on the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is quite appealing, $146 remains a substantial sum for a single novel. However, the excellent aspect of contemporary editions of Tolkien’s works is that there are stunning collectible versions accessible at an array of price levels. For instance: The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition Box Set.

Released just a few weeks following the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, the hardcover Collector’s Edition Box Set features a $105 MSRP. At present, though, you can purchase this attractive collection for merely $49.45.

Once again, the Collector’s Edition is divided into the three distinct segments that form the basis of Tolkien’s novel: Fellowship of the Ring, Two Towers, and Return of the King. Each volume can be housed in the included display box shown above.

The Collector’s Editions boast foil-embossed cover art, dyed page edges, illustrated maps as endpapers, and integrated ribbon bookmarks. The exquisite cover artwork was previously featured in collectible editions released in the UK, making it fantastic that American fans no longer must import the books to appreciate the illustrations up close.

The box set is also accompanied by an exclusive foldout map of Middle-earth.

All three volumes within this box set are also available individually; however, it would cost approximately $15 more to acquire them that way at this moment—and you would forgo the display case as well as the poster. Nevertheless, you might want to pair the box set with the corresponding Collector’s Edition versions of The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, which were similarly released last year and are discounted close to 50%.

• J.R.R. Tolkien 2024 Collector’s Editions (Hardcover)
  • The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition Box Set — $49.45 ($105)
  • The Fellow of the Ring Collector’s Edition — $22.50 ($35)
  • The Two Towers Collector’s Edition — $18 ($35)
  • The Return of the King Collector’s Edition — $21.47 ($35)
  • The Hobbit Collector’s Edition — $18.83 ($35)
  • The Silmarillion Collector’s Edition

    Edition — $19.40 ($35)

For a distinctly unique Tolkien journey, consider acquiring The Compiled Poems of J.R.R Tolkien. This three-volume hardcover set embraces a similar design concept as The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, making them aesthetically pleasing together on a shelf display.

This anthology features verses written by Tolkien as a youth alongside those penned by the venerable literary figure in his later years. The nearly 200 poems within the box set’s 1,700 pages were composed over a span of almost 70 years. These poems come with insights regarding the author’s creations and experiences from two Tolkien experts.

Do keep in mind that this collection is not tied to Lord of the Rings or the broader Middle-earth saga. While Tolkien incorporated poetry in his renowned fantasy works, the verses within his Middle-earth narratives merely touch upon Tolkien’s enduring passion for poetry.

If the concept of reading Tolkien’s poetry intrigues you, you may also want to explore the forthcoming hardcover box set titled Tolkien Myths and Legends. Slated for release on August 19, this visually striking collection encompasses four volumes of epic poetry. Two volumes showcase Tolkien’s original works: a narrative poem concerning King Arthur and a classic poem influenced by Norse mythology. Additionally, the set includes Tolkien’s personal renditions of Beowulf and three other timeless poems.