The Tolkien Illustrated Editions of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion have garnered immense popularity among fans in recent years. This week, Tolkien enthusiasts who chose the Deluxe Special Editions of Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion can now complete their collection with the Hobbit Deluxe Tolkien Illustrated: Special Edition, set to release on October 22. Priced at $195, this premium edition of The Hobbit is currently available at a significant launch discount on Amazon, bringing the price down to $131.51—a 33% reduction.
This Special Edition boasts several exclusive features not included in the standard edition published by William Morrow in 2023. Highlights include two fold-out, poster-sized maps of Thror's Map and the Wilderland, an 88-page illustrated booklet, a reproduction of Tolkien's original dust jacket art on an art card, a redesigned cover with premium binding, and a clothbound slipcase. The spine features a green leather ribbed binding, while the rest of the book is covered in black cloth board with foil-stamped cover art and text. In contrast to the standard edition's blue stained edges, the Special Edition opts for gold page edges, enhancing its luxurious appeal.
The text and illustrations inside the book mirror those of the standard edition, though the Special Edition, being larger, requires only 384 pages to present the full prelude to The Hobbit, compared to the original's 432 pages. Both editions include ribbon bookmarks, and the standard edition also features smaller fold-out maps of the Wilderland and Thror's Map.
This edition is more than just a reprint of The Hobbit on premium paper; it also includes over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings, and maps by Tolkien himself. Additionally, it offers two poster-sized fold-out maps detailing Thror's Map and the Wilderland, an illustrated 88-page booklet, and a printed art card reproducing Tolkien's original dust jacket painting. The book is bound in green leather with raised ribs on the spine, stamped-in foils on black cloth boards, and housed in a custom-built clothbound slipcase. The pages are edged in gold and include a ribbon marker.
For those new to the Tolkien Illustrated Editions, both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion are available in standard hardcover and Deluxe Special Editions. Below is a list of all six Tolkien Illustrated Editions. Note: The Lord of the Rings Illustrated includes all three volumes: Fellowship of the Ring, Two Towers, and Return of the King.
It's also worth noting that Target is currently offering a Buy One, Get One 50% Off deal on the standard versions of the illustrated edition books, provided you're a member of its free Target Circle rewards program. Additionally, Amazon has deals on the recently released Lord of the Rings Collector's Editions. These budget-friendly versions of the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion feature stunning designs. A box set version of the Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition is currently exclusive to Target, priced at $84. On November 5, it will be available at other retailers, including Amazon, but at a higher price.
The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, a premium three-volume set updated from the 1992 edition illustrated by Alan Lee, was released earlier this month and is currently on sale for its lowest price yet. You can also get the newly released Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien 3-Volume Box Set at its best price yet. And while it's not new, The Complete History of Middle-earth is back in stock at Amazon. It was on sale for $110 during Prime Big Deal Days, but even at $139, you're still getting a staggering 5,440 pages of reading material.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
