The Hobbit & The Silmarillion Tolkien Illustrated Particular Editions Salvage $100-Plus Discounts

The Deluxe Illustrated Edition of The Hobbit includes several unique features not found in the standard edition published by William Morrow in 2023. The 384-page book showcases a redesigned, luxury binding made from cloth board and quarterbound in ribbed green leather. The custom clothbound slipcase and cover highlight foil-stamped logos and text. While the standard edition has blue stained page edges, the Special Edition opts for gold edges instead, enhancing its elegant appeal. Like the standard edition, this version comes with a built-in ribbon bookmark.

This edition also includes some exclusive bonuses: two fold-out, poster-sized maps of Thror’s Map and the Wilderland, an 88-page illustrated booklet, and an art card reproduction of the painting Tolkien created for The Hobbit’s original dust jacket.

Both Illustrated Editions of The Hobbit feature 50 sketches, artworks, and other illustrations created by Tolkien as he crafted the prelude to The Lord of the Rings.

The Deluxe Edition of The Silmarillion is currently available at nearly the same price point. Unlike the reduced price for The Hobbit, this does not represent a record low for the classic Middle-earth collection assembled by Christopher Tolkien. Nonetheless, $89 remains one of the lowest prices we have encountered this year—it was selling for nearly $150 just a few weeks ago.

The Illustrated Edition of The Silmarillion spans 448 pages and features 50 illustrations, artwork, and sketches by J.R.R. Tolkien. The more expensive Deluxe edition boasts a ribbed spine quarter-bound in blue leather and a cloth cover. The custom clothbound slipcase and cover showcase foil-stamped symbols and Elvish script. The book has silver-edged pages, the text is printed in two colors, and you will also find a ribbon bookmark to stylize your reading experience.

Inside the slipcase, you will discover a Taniquetil art card and two poster-sized maps of Beleriand. One map illustrates an earlier version of the realm, while the second presents a fully developed setting. In addition to the maps and art card, you will also receive an illustrated booklet detailing the making of The Silmarillion, narrated by Christopher Tolkien.

While the Deluxe Edition of The Lord of the Rings isn’t discounted as significantly as the other two, it is a considerably more substantial volume since it encompasses all three parts of Tolkien’s epic saga. The 1,248-page Deluxe Illustrated Edition debuted first of the three—published by William Morrow in 2022—therefore many unique elements seen in the other editions were derived from this one. It includes a couple of fold-out maps of Middle-earth produced by Christopher Tolkien, a quarter-bound red leather spine, cloth cover, clothbound slipcase, and foil-stamped designs and text on both the cover and slipcase.

The pages in the Deluxe Edition feature gold edges—the standard edition has red edges—and throughout the text, you will find 30 full-color illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien. Like the standard version, this edition contains a ribbon bookmark and all the original text, including the extensive appendices.

Enthusiasts of The Lord of the Rings now have yet another exclusive choice for illustrated editions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Last year, William Morrow released a revamped version of the beloved 1992 hardcover edition.

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set debuted with a suggested retail price of $325; however, Amazon currently lists it at $178. This markdown offers a savings of nearly $150 and is the best deal we’ve witnessed for this exquisite collection.

Divided into three volumes, this box set features a wealth of illustrations by renowned artist Alan Lee. Notably, the 2024 edition includes over 50 recently created pencil sketches and full-color artwork.

Like the Tolkien Illustrated Deluxe Editions, these books are bound in leather and cloth. The slipcase and covers have silver foil-stamped designs and lettering.

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set also includes a set of three art cards and two fold-out maps crafted by Christopher Tolkien.