In the many decades since its publication, there have been dozens of differentLord of the Ringseditions, but some of them remain absolute must-haves for diehard J.R.R. Tolkien fans.
From gorgeous paperbacks to iconic hardcovers, these are some of the bestLord of the Ringsbox sets and deluxe editions you could treat yourself to or buy for your closest friends.
10.The Lord of the Rings(William Morrow 1988 edition)
This hardcover editionofThe Lord of the Rings, first published in 1988, has beautiful artwork and comes with folded maps of Middle-earth. You may find small errors in the text throughout, as this is not the most error-proofLord of the Ringsbox set out there, but there’s something extremely charming about the cover art that will no doubt compel many people to go for this print.
9.The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit(HarperCollins 2017 edition)
This box setfeatures hardcover editions of bothThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbit. The smaller size, similar to many mass-market books, might appeal to those who wish to take their books everywhere. And indeed, all four of these could easily fit in your small bag or even your pocket. The only downside is that the font is incredibly small, and the papers are a bit thin, which means you’ll get a bit of ghosting from the pages. That said, the minimalistic cover art is absolutely irresistible, not to mentionThe Hobbitcover artwork by Tolkien himself is gorgeous and authentic to his own vision of what the story should project.
8.The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit(Mariner paperback)
Now this is what I’d refer to as myLord of the Ringsworkhorse reading copy. The cover of the first book features a circular outline alluding to the Rings of Power and the Eye of Sauron. The second book features the Two Towers, Minas Tirith, the Tower of the Sun, and Minas Ithil, the Tower of the Moon. The third book features the emblem of Gondor, drawn in gorgeous detail. If you want a handyLord of the Ringsbox set that you can read again and again with ease, then you can’t go wrong with this version.
7.The Lord of the Rings(Clarion 2020 box set)
This is a fairly new addition to the ever-growing collection of Tolkien box sets out there, but it’s steadily going up in our list of all-time favoriteLord of the Ringsprints. While most Tolkien books feature minimalistic artwork or, at best, Alan Lee’s naturalistic watercolors,the Clarion setintroduces a modern take on the trilogy.The Fellowship of the Ringentertains the gorgeous art of a Ringwraith, whileThe Two Towersshows the art of Barad-dur in all of its terrifying gloom.The Return of the Kingfeatures Aragorn’s re-forged Anduril, and all three boast J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic signature at the top. If you want to introduce a new friend toThe Lord of the Rings, this is the box set you should buy for them.
6.The Lord of the Rings(illustrated by the author Deluxe edition)
Frankly, I don’t know why anyone would buy this unless they’re a hugeLord of the Ringsfan.This deluxe editionfrom 2022 is gigantic, but the great thing about its design is that it reminds you of The Red Book of Westmarch, which is the in-universe book containing the accounts of both the stories of Bilbo and Frodo. There are also 30 color illustrations from Tolkien as he was composing his epic magnum opus. The deluxe hardcover further includes two removable maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien, which feature Middle-earth and its various regions in detail. Be forewarned, though; This isn’t a book you hold in your hand and read. This is a book you ever so rarely pick up from your shelf to admire. So, if you have a dear friend or family member who is a huge Tolkien fan, getting this would make them the happiest person in the entire geekdom.
5.The Lord of the Rings(illustrated by the author hardback edition)
Another somewhat deluxeLord of the Ringsedition you could get is the 2021 hardcover by William Morrow. The red, black, and gold engravings on the cover are a joy to drink in, but what makes this print truly unique is the Ring-inscription in Tengwar, painted on a fully red fore-edge.This versionalso includes the author’s paintings and is overall easier to use or read. J.R.R. Tolkien always intendedThe Lord of the Ringsto be published under a single volume, and I do not doubt that he would’ve been proud of this if he were around to see it.
4.The Lord of the Rings(2013 slipcased and illustrated edition)
It is uncanny how much I lovethis particular editionofThe Lord of the Rings, made complete with Alan Lee’s gorgeous illustrations. The blue spine, featuring the names of the three volumes as well as a circular engraving of the One Ring inscription, is aesthetically pleasing, while the iconic painting of Frodo and Sam approaching the Black Gate graces the front with no other appendage. The illustrations inside are high quality, and the font size is just right. I don’t know how to quite put it, but this edition somehow brings to mind what a definitive Bible-esque version ofThe Lord of the Ringswould look like.
3.The Lord of the Rings(2014 hardcover box set)
Whilethis 2014 hardcover boxset may not be the bestLord of the Ringsedition objectively, I’d say it has the most gorgeous-looking covers in the book’s entire publication history. The covers are edited versions of the older HarperCollins editions, but it’s exactly those small details that make everything infinitely better. That is especially true ofThe Return of the King, which has received the biggest refinements. The papers are also extremely thin, making the books all the more easier to handle. Last but not least, this box set comes with the acclaimedReader’s Companion, which goes from chapter to chapter, examining the structure and the behind-the-scenes process of their evolution.
2.The Lord of the Rings(2020 HarperCollins illustrated edition)
While I’m strongly partial to the 2014 hardcover set (with theReader’s Companion) and the 2013 slipcased edition, if someone were to ask me what’s the all-time greatLord of the Ringsbox set, I’d point them to the2020 HarperCollins illustrated editions, featuring Alan Lee’s gorgeous art on the covers. This is essentially similar to the illustrated one-volume versions, with the exception that they’ve now been divided into three again. The font and page layout are stunning, and the artwork really takes you into the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular and attention-grabbing cover than Lee’s art for Rivendell (onThe Fellowship), Frodo approaching Cirith Ungol (onThe Two Towers), and the Battle of Pelennor Fields (onThe Return) not to mention good old Bilbo Baggins lounging in Bag End onThe Hobbit.
1.The Lord of the Rings(50th-anniversary Deluxe edition)
If you’re looking for a one-volume edition ofThe Lord of the Ringsthat’s actually practical to read and use regularly, then the50th-anniversary deluxe edition by William Morrowis your best bet. The cover is somewhere between a paperback and a hardcover, and the binding has been designed in a way to make the experience of opening the book and leafing through it as comfortable as possible. But what ultimately appeals to me about this edition, besides the fact that it includes all three volumes and the appendices while also being handy, is the beautiful, minimalistic grey cover. Out of all the different editions ofThe Lord of the Rings, this one feels the least showy and the most Tolkien-y I’ve come across, if that makes any sense.
