A week after Amazon’s Big Deal Days concluded, the stunning Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set remains at an unprecedented low price of $108.30. This marks an incredible $216.70 off its original $325 price tag from October 2024. Initially a Prime-exclusive offer, this fantastic deal is now accessible to all, effective October 14.
This Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is a truly magnificent edition of LOTR’s Centenary Edition, featuring breathtaking illustrations by Alan Lee. As a proud owner of this collection (who, regrettably, paid significantly more!), I wholeheartedly recommend it to any dedicated Tolkien enthusiast. It would undoubtedly make an extraordinary gift for the holidays.
For a closer look, details about The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set are provided below. While other retailers typically show limited views, numerous stunning promotional images highlight its beauty. Additionally, we’ve covered the newly released 2025 edition of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Illustrated Box Set, also graced with Alan Lee’s artwork, which debuted this week at a comparable price point.
The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set is a revamped version of the gorgeous Centenary Edition from 1992. Across the three hardcover volumes—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—there are more than 50 new pencil sketches and full-color paintings by beloved Lord of the Rings artist Alan Lee. All told, the box set has 1,332 pages, making it longer than most, if not all, editions of LOTR currently in print.
The aesthetic touches are remarkable: the top and bottom page edges are a deep blue, while the side edges evoke the swirling smoke of Mount Doom. Alan Lee’s new cover artwork features a framed rectangular drawing at its core, set within a gray cloth board and framed by an exquisite silver foil-stamped border. Each volume is quarter-bound in luxurious blue leather, with pages meticulously sewn into the spine, and includes a practical ribbon bookmark.
Silver-foil text graces the spine and covers of each book. The custom display case, crafted from cloth board, boasts circular emblems by Lee. Its rounded front edges allow for easy removal of the books, revealing a breathtaking interior: Lee’s vivid illustration of Mount Doom’s eruption unfolds across every surface of the carefully designed slipcase.
Each book also contains a large, removable art card, perfect for display. In addition to these three art cards, the set includes two foldout maps of Middle-earth, masterfully drawn by Christopher Tolkien, the author’s literary executor. Christopher Tolkien meticulously edited, expanded, and organized numerous supplementary writings, including The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s Legendarium, which formed the extensive 12-part series known as The History of Middle-earth.
The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings: Illustrated Box Set
William Morrow released another Lord of the Rings box set, also illustrated by Alan Lee, this week (October 14). While not as opulent as the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, this four-volume hardcover set includes a significant addition: The Hobbit, beautifully illustrated by Lee. It features the Centenary Edition of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit’s 60th Anniversary Edition.
The dust jackets and display box are adorned with Alan Lee’s full illustrated artwork, mirroring the design aesthetic of the 2024 History of Middle-earth Box Sets and other recent collections like Tolkien Myths and Legends and The Great Tales of Middle-earth.
Opting for this set means foregoing the exclusive paintings, sketches, and premium features of the Deluxe Illustrated Box Set (such as quarter-bound blue leather, cloth board covers, and the custom case). However, the trade-off is acquiring The Hobbit with Lee’s stunning illustrations. This box set was initially published in the UK in 2020, and the new US edition appears to be identical. The 2020 version is often available from resellers at lower prices, at $72 from Walmart and $88 from Amazon.
Tolkien Illustrated Edition Deals
Amazon continues to offer remarkable discounts on Tolkien Illustrated Editions, reflecting its past ‘Big Deal Days’ pricing. Highlights include The Hobbit Illustrated, now $30.39 (originally $75), and The Silmarillion’s Illustrated Edition, which is even more affordable at $37.79 (originally $75). The Lord of the Rings Illustrated Edition is also available for $47.49 (originally $90). Each of these beautifully crafted editions features the author’s own sketches, paintings, and maps, alongside stained edges with unique Dwarvish/Elvish script. Plus, both books include fold-out maps.
Deals on Recent Tolkien Box Sets
Further opportunities to expand your Tolkien collection include two additional box sets, still available at their Amazon sale prices. The Great Tales of Middle-earth, comprising the final Middle-earth novels, saw a new hardcover release in August and can be acquired for $75 (originally $125). An earlier 2018 hardcover edition of The Great Tales of Middle-earth is also available for $50 (previously $100). Additionally, the Tolkien Myths and Legends four-book hardcover collection, released in June for $125, is now an astounding $51 – a saving of over 50%. This set includes two myths penned by Tolkien himself, alongside his personal translations of four epic poems, notably Beowulf.
The Lord of the Rings Steelbook Edition 4K Blu-rays
For movie buffs, Peter Jackson’s iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy is available in stunning 4K Blu-ray Steelbook editions. The Return of the King’s Steelbook, launched October 14, is currently $30 (originally $35) at Walmart, though Amazon is sold out. However, The Fellowship of the Ring Steelbook is at its lowest price ever at $26 (originally $35) across various retailers, and The Two Towers is readily available for $30 (originally $35).