The Art of the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

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There are more than 150 illustrations throughout the book along with 20 full color plates and many examples of his conceptual art for the films. There were occasionally pictures included that I didn't think were worthy of inclusion, such as one where it was the first time Tolkien had drawn a certain mountain, but it was a tiny little sketch that had like two lines drawn.

Tolkien's illustrations contributed to the effectiveness of his writings, though much of his oeuvre remained unpublished in his lifetime. Realms of Tolkien is personally one of my favorite items in my collection because I love looking at what all the different artists created. Folio commissioned Hokyoung Kim for the artwork, while the late author’s wife, Wendy Benchley, provides a fascinating new introduction. Hammond and Christina Scull, two of the world’s leading Tolkien scholars, have edited the book and provide an expert introduction and comments.

Tolkien's illustration of the Doors of Durin for The Fellowship of the Ring, with Sindarin inscription in Tengwar script, both being his inventions.

Inspired by Tolkien's work to pursue his chosen path as an artist of the mythic and fantastic, he has illustrated a wide range of books including Faeries, The Mabinogion, Castles, Merlin Dreams, the centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. The publishers declined to include a reproduction of the artefact in the first edition of The Lord of the Rings.However, the first British edition of The Hobbit in 1937 was published with ten of his black-and-white drawings. Posthumously, collections of his artworks have been published, and academics have begun to evaluate him as an artist as well as an author.