THE LORD OF THE RINGS
First published on July 29, 1954 ("The Fellowship of the Ring"), November 11, 1954 ("The Two Towers"), October 20, 1955 ("The Return of the King"), by George Allen & Unwin.

"A unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning."

~ New York Times

"Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction in the twentieth century ... The book presents us with the richest profusion of new lands and creatures, from the beauty of Lothlórien, to the horror of Mordor, adventures to hold us spell-bound, and words of beauty and evocation to bring all vividly before us."

~ Sunday Telegraph

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell, by chance, into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.

From his fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, Sauron's power spread far and wide. He gathered all the Great Rings to him, but ever he searched far and wide for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.

On his eleventy-first birthday Bilbo disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest—to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.

"The Lord of the Rings" tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard, the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Boromir of Gondor, and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.

PAGE NOTES:

  • You will find all the currently available US and UK editions of "The Lord of the Rings" listed below. Out-of-print editions are not listed.
  • Learn more about "The Lord of the Rings," by reading the 'Wikipedia Entry' for this book.

HARDCOVER EDITIONS (SINGLE-VOLUME)

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY' 'LEATHER BOUND' 'HARDCOVER' EDITION
Quarter-bound in cloth and leather, and set in a cloth-bound slipcase, this outstanding edition's features include: Text fully corrected to Tolkien's exacting specifications, Tolkien's own hand-colored leaves of the Book of Mazarbul, two large-format two-color foldout maps, protective slipcase with inset panels, two color foil stamping, gilded edges, ribbon bookmark, and a two-color title page.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-51765-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-51765-7
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Hardcover'

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY' 'LEATHER BOUND' 'HARDCOVER' EDITION
Quarter-bound in cloth and leather, and set in a cloth-bound slipcase, this outstanding edition's features include: Text fully corrected to Tolkien's exacting specifications, Tolkien's own hand-colored leaves of the Book of Mazarbul, two large-format two-color foldout maps, protective slipcase with inset panels, two color foil stamping, gilded edges, ribbon bookmark, and a two-color title page.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-007-18236-8
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-00-718236-7
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Hardcover'

SINGLE-VOLUME 'HARDCOVER' 'CENTENARY' EDITION: ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN LEE
This large format hardcover edition published to commemorate the centenary of Tolkien's birth in 1992. Illustrated with fifty specially commissioned paintings by Alan Lee, an artist whose vision matches Tolkien's own.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-395-59511-8
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-395-59511-4
  • Bindery: Large-Format 'Hardcover'

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH-ANNIVERSARY' 'HARDCOVER' EDITION
Includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting and, for the first time, an extensive new index.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-64561-6
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-64561-9
  • Bindery: Standard 'Hardcover'

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH-ANNIVERSARY' 'HARDCOVER' EDITION
Includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting and, for the first time, an extensive new index.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

HARDCOVER EDITIONS (INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES)

THREE-VOLUME 'HARDCOVER' EDITION: ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN LEE
Three-volume boxed slipcased edition of the extremely popular single volume centenary edition listed above. Just as with the centenary edition, this boxed slipcased edition features fifty specially commissioned paintings by Alan Lee.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-26058-7
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-26058-4
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') Large Format 'Hardcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

THREE-VOLUME 'HARDCOVER' EDITION: ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN LEE
Three-volume boxed slipcased edition of the extremely popular single volume centenary edition listed above. Just as with the centenary edition, this boxed slipcased edition features fifty specially commissioned paintings by Alan Lee.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-007-13658-7
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-00-713658-2
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Hardcover'
FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THE UK EDITION: CLICK HERE

THREE-VOLUME 'HARDCOVER' EDITION
Boxed 'hardcover' collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King." Includes large format fold-out maps, and an extensive appendices. Dust-jackets and boxes are illustrated by Alan Lee.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-395-48932-6
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-395-48932-1
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Hardcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

SOFTCOVER EDITIONS

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH-ANNIVERSARY' 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
Trade 'softcover' edition. Includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting, and an extensive new index.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-64015-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-64015-7
  • Bindery: Standard 'Trade Paperback' ('Softcover')

SINGLE-VOLUME 'FIFTIETH-ANNIVERSARY' 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
Trade 'softcover' edition. Includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting, and an extensive new index.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-261-10325-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-261-10325-2
  • Bindery: Standard 'Trade Paperback' ('Softcover')

FOUR-VOLUME 'SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY' 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
HarperCollins' boxed collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King," and its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit."

Published to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the publication of "The Hobbit."

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-261-10356-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-261-10356-6
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THE UK EDITION: CLICK HERE

FOUR-VOLUME 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
Houghton Mifflin's boxed 'softcover' collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King," and its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit." Box and covers illustrated by Alan Lee.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-00225-1
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-00225-2
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

FOUR VOLUME 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION: ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN LEE
HarperCollins 'softcover' collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King," and its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit."

Fully illustrated throughout in watercolour by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-007-35514-9
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-00-735514-3
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

HARPERCOLLINS' ESSENTIAL MODERN CLASSICS FOUR VOLUME 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
Quality 'trade paperback edition of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King," and its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit," from HarperCollins' Essential Modern Classics (Children's Books) series. Designed for schools, libraries, and other educational facilities.

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-007-14408-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-00-714408-2
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN'S THREE VOLUME 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION
Houghton Mifflin's boxed 'softcover' collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King." Interior design and covers by artist John Jude Palencar.

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-57499-9
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-57499-5
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

PAPERBACK EDITIONS

BALLANTINE'S FOUR VOLUME 'PAPERBACK' EDITION
Ballantine/Del/Random House boxed pocket-book collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King," and its enchanting prequel, "The Hobbit."

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Ballantine/Del/Random House
  • ISBN: 0-345-34042-6
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-345-34042-9
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Paperback'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

HARPERCOLLINS' THREE VOLUME 'PAPERBACK' EDITION
HarperCollins boxed pocket-book collection of "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King."

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-261-10238-9
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-261-10238-5
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Paperback'

FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES OF THIS EDITION: CLICK HERE

RELATED EDITIONS

Editions of "The History of The Lord of the Rings", "Bilbo's Last Song".

THE HISTORY OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS
This four volume boxed softcover subset of "The History of Middle-earth," collects only those volumes that pertain to Tolkien's masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings." Includes "The Return of the Shadow," "The Treason of Isengard," "The War of the Ring," and a special volume unique to this edition, "The End of the Third Age," the first section of "Sauron Defeated," the ninth volume of "The History of Middle-earth," and completes Christopher Tolkien's account of his father's creation of "The Lord of the Rings."

'BOXED' 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.com
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
  • ISBN: 0-618-08355-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-618-08355-8
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

THE HISTORY OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS
This four volume boxed softcover subset of "The History of Middle-earth," collects only those volumes that pertain to Tolkien's masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings." Includes "The Return of the Shadow," "The Treason of Isengard," "The War of the Ring," and a special volume unique to this edition, "The End of the Third Age," the first section of "Sauron Defeated," the ninth volume of "The History of Middle-earth," and completes Christopher Tolkien's account of his father's creation of "The Lord of the Rings."

'BOXED' 'SOFTCOVER' EDITION

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION

  • Available Now @ Amazon.co.uk
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • ISBN: 0-261-10370-9
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-261-10370-2
  • Bindery: Boxed ('Slipcased') 'Softcover'

BILBO'S LAST SONG
First published on ? ?, ?, by ?.

"A must for all fans of Tolkien's vast, epic fantasy"
~ Publishers Weekly

Considered to be Bilbo Baggins' epilogue to "The Lord of the Rings," "Bilbo's Last Song" is his short but beautiful farewell poem to Middle-earth. The lyrical text is accompanied by stunningly detailed color illustrations by Pauline Baynes that are worth the cover price alone. Baynes, who famously illustrated C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles, was much admired by Tolkien as well as a good friend of his.

Bilbo Baggins, composed his last song after arriving at Grey Havens to board the White Ship on its journey west. He reflects on the leaving of Middle-Earth and the voyage that would take him to the Undying Lands.

There are extensive notes about Baynes' illustrations, which depict two journeys. The larger ones depict the journey that brings the ring-bearers and the company of elves to the Grey Havens and the beginning of the final voyage. Another sequence of smaller vignettes show scenes from "The Hobbit" as Bilbo remembers his first journey on the eve of his last.

Interestingly, the copyright of "Bilbo's Last Song" was a gift from Tolkien to a young woman seconded from his publisher in the 1970s to help him with his correspondence—which was vast. He used to joke that if ever a diamond bracelet fell out of an envelope it would be hers. Once, when she was helping him pack up his office before he moved house, Bilbo's Last Song fell out of a book and she loved it so much that Tolkien said it could be her diamond bracelet. It was never published in his lifetime.

'HARDCOVER' EDITION

NOTE: UK (UNITED KINGDOM) EDITION