At this point, there seems to be hundreds of different editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, including numerous versions that double as collectible display pieces. But the upcoming Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set might be the most premium version to receive a wide release yet. The three-volume set includes hardcover editions bound in cloth and leather. All three books are illustrated by Alan Lee, a popular artist who has contributed to numerous Tolkien books as well as Peter Jackson’s LOTR and Hobbit adaptations.
Speaking of the movies, the 4K limited-edition steelbook collection of The Lord of the Rings received a reprinting that launched. on August 9. Unfortunately, Amazon is currently sold out of the $170 set, but if you really want it, you can buy the set from a third-party seller for $200 and it’ll ship directly from Amazon (eligible for Prime).
But back to the books: The Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is very expensive at $325, but there is another new Lord of the Rings collectible book set releasing this year that you can preorder for less than a third of the price. Amazon won’t charge for your preorder(s) until your books ship, and any discounts offered between the time you order and release will automatically be applied.
$325 | Releases October 1
The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is a revamped version of a gorgeous collection first launched in 1992. It has been “revised and expanded,” with over 50 brand-new pencil drawings and paintings by Alan Lee throughout the three books: All told, the three books–The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King–total 1,332 pages, which appears to be the highest page count of any LOTR edition currently in print.
Each book has a redesigned cover, silver foil typescript accenting the blue spines, and hardcover bindings made with cloth and leather. The gorgeous gray slipcase is stamped with a silver foil emblem.
Inside the decorative slipcase you’ll also find three exclusive removable art cards and a pair of foldout maps of Middle-earth. The maps were drawn by Christopher Tolkien, who edited and turned his father’s extensive writings into numerous supplementary books, including The Silmarillion and 11 more Middle-earth history books.
To be clear, The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated is not the same as the popular 2021 version illustrated by Tolkien.
$98 (was $105) | Releases November 5
If you’re looking for something more affordable, another collector’s edition box set of LOTR is arriving this year. The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition Box Set releases on November 5 and is currently on sale for $97.65 (was $105). Along with all three books, you’ll get a stylish slipcase to display your hardcover collection.
It’s worth noting that you can pair the LOTR Trilogy with a matching collector’s edition of The Hobbit. The Hobbit Collector’s Edition released on August 6 and is available for $30 (was $35) at Amazon.
And while most fans will want all three volumes in the trilogy, each book is releasing separately on September 17. You can preorder collector’s editions of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King for $35 each at Amazon.
$112.50 (was $125) | Releases September 17
For a markedly different Tolkien experience, consider preordering The Collected Poems of J.R.R Tolkien. The box set arrives on September 17 and marks the first-ever publication of his full collected poems. Spanning nearly seven decades, three volumes, and over 1,700 pages, this set is for the truly dedicated Tolkien fans (and poetry readers, of course). One cool aspect of this release is that it follows the same design philosophy as the upcoming LOTR Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, so these would look great next to each other on a shelf.
The History of Middle-earth Box Sets & Tolkien Illustrated Editions
The aforementioned 12-volume History of Middle-earth series edited and compiled by Christopher Tolkien is currently in the process of being released in beautiful new hardcover box sets. And if you want to compare the upcoming Deluxe Illustrated Box Set to the Tolkien Illustrated Editions, we’ve included links to both the standard and deluxe versions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. The Hobbit Deluxe Tolkien Illustrated Edition is set to arrive in October, so fans who already own deluxe verisons of LOTR and The Silmarillion can complete their set.
The History of Middle-earth New Box Sets
Tolkien Illustrated Editions
