New Lord of the Rings and Hobbit sets illustrated by Alan Lee get early Black Friday deals

New hardcover box set featuring the best versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit launches this week Amazon Black Friday Early Sale. Published October 14th by William Morrow, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings sets illustrated by Alan Lee Discounted to only $92.93 (originally $150). According to the store page, the 38% discount is to “sell quickly,” so it may not be in stock by the time it hits Amazon. black friday 2025 It will officially go on sale on November 20th.

While not as polished as last year’s Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Set, it’s still nice to have a matching version of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit. This is especially true when talking about the iconic versions drawn by the concept designers of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. The new four-volume collection includes a redesigned Centenary Edition of The Lord of the Rings (published in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tolkien's birth) and a 60th Anniversary Edition of The Hobbit (1997).

$93 (originally $150) | Limited time offer

The four hardcover books of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” have just over 1,600 pages. Unforgettable scenes from each story are accompanied by stunning full-page watercolor portraits. The centenary edition of “The Lord of the Rings” contains 50 illustrations. Meanwhile, The Hobbit has 27 full-page illustrations, with smaller watercolors at the beginning of each chapter. All four books have detailed maps of Middle-earth as end pages.

The dust jacket and matching slipcase feature Lee's beautiful watercolor illustrations. The vibrant wraparound aesthetic resembles The History of Middle-earth Sets Released last year, released this year Tolkien Myths and Legends and The great story of Middle-earth.

Like many editions of Tolkien's works, this set was originally published by HarperCollins UK in 2020. Over the past five years, U.S. readers have had to buy 2020 edition Import from dealers or direct from UK bookstores. William Morrow's 2025 version is consistent with the UK version.

William Morrow still prints stand-alone hardcover editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Lee's paintings, but you'll end up paying about $20 more compared to the boxed deal. Plus, you'll miss out on the slipcover and stunning new cover and case art.

The Lord of the Rings, illustrated by Alan Lee (2002 edition)

As mentioned earlier, William Moreau published an informative book Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustration Set last fall. Originally priced at $325, this stunning three-volume set is discounted to just $108.30, matching the all-time low price of the first offer during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event.

The Deluxe Illustrated Set is a remastered and expanded version of the Centennial Edition, featuring new paintings, more than 50 of Lee's pencil sketches, three removable art cards, and two fold-out maps. All three books are quarter-bound in leather, with new watercolors on cloth board covers and surrounding gilt frames. Lee's artwork even appears on the page edges and inside the custom fabric board slipcase, both depicting the eruption of Mount Doom. The pages are sewn to the spine, and each volume in the 1,332-page book has a built-in ribbon bookmark.

Deluxe illustration box set no The Hobbit is included, but starting today (November 18), you can add the companion version to your collection—as long as you don't mind spending nearly $200. The Hobbit Deluxe EditionLike The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Edition, it features exclusive new art not found in the original 60th Anniversary Edition or the standard set. It features new full-color paintings and black-and-white sketches, two foldout maps, and a removable art card. The Hobbit Deluxe Edition is designed to perfectly match last year's set, with the same premium features, including a custom slipcase. “The Hobbit Deluxe Edition” has 384 pages and retails for $195. Amazon is offering a small discount, bringing the price down to $179.

The History of Middle-earth Sets

As you can see from the image above, William Morrow's other 2024-25 Tolkien box sets share a similar aesthetic to the new Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit slipcase sets. The decorative box art and wraparound covers for the four History of Middle-earth sets were designed and illustrated by John Howe. Published in August, the Great Stories of Middle-earth box set includes color plates and Alan Lee's black and white sketches. All six-box sets are heavily discounted on Amazon.

If you want a hardcover Lord of the Rings box set but don't want to spend around $100, there are two great options for half the price (or less). Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition Set Amazon has a discounted price of $51 (originally $105). All three volumes feature spray-painted margins, ribbon bookmarks, fully illustrated endpapers, and foil cover art. These are not illustrated editions, but are very reasonably priced and look great.

Another option is 1988 hardcover boxedis still in print today due to its popularity. The set has a distinctly classic look and features cover and slipcase artwork by Alan Lee. This $90 book cover set sells for $38.75 on Amazon.

Sign up for GameSpot's weekly deals newsletter: