I’ve been in awe of The Folio Society‘s timeless stylistics and book releases for some time now, and this is a really special one. The Lord of the Rings is, of course, one of the most celebrated stories of our time – which defined a genre and inspired so many, and is now available from The Folio Society lavishly illustrated with artwork by Alan Lee.

This truly exquisite three-volume set is presented in a silver-blocked slipcase (lined with a hidden illustration) with a new art print exclusive to this edition and a pair of maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien, printed together and presented in a cloth-covered case. Each volume is quarter-bound in burgundy calfskin leather blocked in silver, with an illustrated inset label, silver page tops and a burgundy satin ribbon marker. The text – printed in black and burgundy – is the most up to date and academically rigorous available, and is accompanied by a new preface written exclusively for this edition by the artist.

Alan Lee’s work is synonymous with the worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien, having defined the visual setting of Middle-earth for a generation. Peter Jackson’s film adaptations introduced this epic story to an even wider audience, and Lee won the 2004 Academy Award for his Art Direction of these cinematic masterpieces. All of Lee’s illustrations have been reproduced to the artist’s exacting standards, in a scale and quality never seen before, and have been augmented by entirely new images, roundels and borders.

Strictly limited to 1,000 sets, the limitation page has been tipped in by hand and numbered and signed by Alan Lee. Every set comes with a beautiful art print, presented in a translucent folder printed with a burgundy design – order here!

The majestic scale of the landscapes and the atmosphere Lee captures on the page – all in exquisite watercolour and pencil – make him the only choice to illustrate this, the ultimate edition of The Lord of the Rings. It’s exquisite: