The Tolkien Collection, 2016 Version

Back in 2011, Anassa gave me the idea to take out my Tolkien books and stack them up on the table. Made for a rather impressive pile too. The table then seated four. Now, it takes one side of a snooker table to display the collection. The last few years have been good ones for the Tolkien collector, with new books (not to mention new editions of his books) being released every year.

I did another list in 2013, which was the first time I used the snooker table to hold it, and now it's time for a new one.

To get the whole thing in one frame, I had to back away so far that none of the titles can be read easily in the photo. In general though, there's the entirety of the History of Middle-Earth series stacked to the far left of the photo followed by the newer books of Tolkien's poetry. Above those we have the audio books, two Hobbit Blu-rays, Mr. Bliss, the Art of The Hobbit and The Art of the Lord of the Rings (two absolutely gorgeous books). Next to that is most of the mass-market sized Tolkien books and then the Black boxed set and the white set (still in it's shrink-wrap). Just to one side of the middle of the stack are my Verlyn Flieger books on Tolkien, the Lord of the Rings movies, some art books, and the final item in the display is the J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide two book set.

The books:

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
   One volume edition, illustrated by Alan Lee. (Middle of the bottom row)
2. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
   One volume, movie cover edition. (Horizontally in the middle of the stack beside the Alan Lee illustrated Lord of the Rings)
3. The Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary Box Set by J.R.R. Tolkien
   The white box set including the Lord of the Rings Readers Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. Still in the shrink wrap.
   
4. The Lord of the Rings box set by J.R.R. Tolkien
   The black box set. (above the white set)
5. The Lord of the Rings
   The BBC Radio Play edition adapted by Brian Sibley. Each of the major characters is done by a different actor, including Ian Holm (Frodo), Peter Woodthorpe (Gollum) and Michael Horden (Gandalf). (About the only thing not pictured. I realized too late that it's upstairs)
6. The Lord of the Rings
   The BBC Radio Play edition adapted by Brian Sibley. Each of the major characters is done by a different actor, including Ian Holm (Frodo), Peter Woodthorpe (Gollum) and Michael Horden (Gandalf). Duplicate edition with some new narration. Not pictured.
7. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
8. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
9. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
10. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
11. The Annotated Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson
    Lovely design with two columns: one for the text and the other for notes, including excerpts from letters, possible inspirations etc. I'm a bit ashamed to admit I have yet to fully read this edition, but it's so full of information that it really is a must have.
12. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Illustrated by Alan Lee
13. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Mass market edition.
14. The Hobbit Graphic Novel
15. Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Black edition.
16. Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Illustrated Hardcover edition, with the illustrations being by J.R.R. Tolkien too. Library discard.
17. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Hardcover, with illustrations from the Rankin-Bass animated movie. The first edition of The Hobbit that I ever read. A bit awkwardly sized, but has a lot of sentimental value.
18. The Hobbit
    BBC Radio Play edition
19. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
    80th Anniversary Hardcover Facsimile edition. Not pictured.
20. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Hardcover, illustrated by Ted Naismith
21. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
22. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Library discard hardcover
23. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo translated by J.R.R. Tolkien
    My favourite translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Tolkien seems to have kept the meter and rhyme scheme very well.
24. Tales from The Perilous Realm b J.R.R. Tolkien
    Made up of Leaf by Niggle, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Farmer Giles of Ham and Smith of Wootton Major. Illustrated by Alan Lee
25. On Fairy Stories by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Verlyn Flieger and Douglas A. Anderson. Included commentary and notes
26. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes
27. Tree and Leaf by J.R.R. Tolkien
28. Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull.
29. The Tolkien Reader by J.R.R. Tolkien
30. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien
31. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Audiobook read by Christopher Lee.
32. Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien
33.  The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien 
34. Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien.
35. The Story of Kullervo by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien
36. The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Verlyn Flieger
37. Beren and Luthien by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Christopher Tolkien. Not pictured.
38. Tales from the Perilous Realm
    BBC Radio Play edition.
39. Mr. Bliss by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Lovely slip-cased facsimile edition.
40. The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien
41. Smith of Wootton Major by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Edited by Verlyn Flieger
42. Finn and Hengist by J.R.R. Tolkien
43. The Ancrene Wisse edited by J.R.R. Tolkien
    One expensive book! In some form of Middle English, I think with some latin mixed in. I can't read it at all. Early English Text Society edition.
44. Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien
    Illustrated by Pauline Baynes
45. The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays by J.R.R. Tolkien
46. The Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    Same cover style as the Black box set of the Lord of the Rings.
47. The Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
48. The Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    The deluxe slipcased edition. Not pictured.
49. The Book of Lost Tales One by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
50. The Book of Lost Tales Two by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
51. The Lays of Beleriand by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
52. The Shaping of Middle Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
53. The Lost Road by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
54. The Return of the Shadow by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    The first book covering the draft versions of The Lord of the Rings. Also, the first book in the History Of Middle Earth series that I ever read.
55. The Treason of Isengard by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    The second book about the Lord of the Rings
56. The War of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    The third book in the set about the Lord of the Rings.
57. Sauron Defeated by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    Only part of the book covers the end of the documents about the Lord of the Rings. The rest holds one of my other favourite unfinished stories by Tolkien though: The Notion Club Papers. I think this copy also has some holes punched in the pages  (from the metal bookmark I stopped using as soon as I discovered it was doing that).
58. Morgoth's Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
59. The War of the Jewels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
60. Peoples of Middle Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
    Only one of the History of Middle-Earth books I have in hardcover.
61. A Middle English Reader and Vocabulary by Kenneth Sisam and J.R.R. Tolkien
    IIRC, Kenneth Sisam was one of Tolkien's tutors.
62. The Tolkien Family Album by John and Priscilla Tolkien
63. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Humphrey Carpenter
    Hardcover edition
64. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Humphrey Carpenter
    With the improved index.
65. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter
    This is the gold standard biography I believe.
66. The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter
67. Tolkien by Raymond Edwards
68. The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull
    Slip-cased set of two volumes: the Chronology and the Reader's Guide. Another jaw-dropper of a set, and one I consider to be a must-have.
69. The Lord of the Rings Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull
70. The Art Of The Hobbit by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull.
    The artwork that J.R.R. Tolkien did for The Hobbit, both during the drafts and for publication gathered together in one place. Beautifully done in a lovely slipcase.
71. The Art of the Lord of the Rings by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. 
    Follows the same format as the Art of the Hobbit. Absolutely spectacular!
72. J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist And Illustrator by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull
    About Tolkien's own artwork over the years from his childhood on. Stunning, and has insights into Tolkien and his writings as well.
73. The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth by Robert Foster
74. The Complete Guide To Middle Earth by Robert Foster
    Dates from university where I was keeping a copy handy for between class editing of my website.
75. Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth
76. A Question of Time: Tolkien's Road To Faerie by Verlyn Flieger
77. Interrupted Music: The Making of Middle-Earth by Verlyn Flieger
78. Splintered Light: Langage and Logos by Verlyn Flieger
79. Green Suns And Faerie by Verlyn Flieger.  
80. There Would Always Be A Fairy Tale: More Essays on Tolkien by Verlyn Flieger
    Not pictured.
81. Meditations on Middle-Earth edited by Karen Haber
    Illustrated by John Howe. A number of authors writing on how Middle-Earth and J.R.R. Tolkien influenced them.
82. Master of Middle Earth by Paul Koch
83. A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings by Lin Carter
84. A Tolkien Compass by Jared Lobdel
85. Tolkien's Legendarium Essays on The History of Middle-earth (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy) edited by Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter
    Essays that focus on the History of Middle Earth series. Another expensive book (especially for its size).
86. The History of The Hobbit: Mr. Baggins by John D. Ratelliff
87. The History of The Hobbit: Return to Bag-End by John D. Rateliff
88. The Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Stratchey
    Maps and distances focused on the descriptions given in The Lord of the Rings. Rather a neat book to have, if an awkward size.
89. Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstaad
90. Understanding The Lord of the Rings by William Ready
91. Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary by Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall and Edmun Weiner
92. The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle: Music By Donald Swann and Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien
    This is one that I`d really like to hear some day. I can`t read music, so I don`t fully appreciate the book at all.
93. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Man Who Created The Lord of the Rings by Michael Coren
94. Understanding The Lord Of The Rings: The Best Of Tolkien Criticism Edited by Rose A. Zimbardo and Neil D. Isaacs
95. J.R.R. Tolkien by Robley Evans
    To be honest I cringe at this book - the errors are glaring.
96. Tolkien: A Celebration edited by Joseph Pearce
97. The Battle For Middle-Earth: Tolkien`s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings by Fleming Rutledge
98. Middle-Earth: Visions of A Modern Myth by Donato Giancola
    A book of art about Middle-Earth.
99. The Road To Middle Earth by Tom Shippey
100. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author Of The Century by Tom Shippey
101. The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition DVD
102. The Two Towers Extended Edition DVD
103. The Return of the King Extended Edition DVD
104. The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions set. Blu-Ray
     Not pictured. Purchased after the photo was taken.
105. The Lord of the Rings DVD
106. The Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack
     Not pictured
107. The Two Towers Soundtrack
     Not pictured
108. The Return of the King Soundtrack
     Not pictured
     The animated Bashki edition. Interestingly, Peter Woodthorpe does Gollum here too.
109. J.E.A. Tyler`s Tolkien book
     Not pictured, in storage
110. Tolkien`s Ring by David Day
     Illustrated by Alan Lee - the most redeeming feature of the book
111. The Tolkien Encyclopedia by David Day
     
112. A-Z of Tolkien by David Day
     
113. The Gospel According To Tolkien by Ralph Woods.
114. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
     Peter Jackson's first movie in his Hobbit trilogy. Blu-Ray format.
115. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
     Peter Jackson's second movie in the Hobbit Trilogy. Also in Blu-Ray. 
116. The Battle of the Five Armies
     Number three in Peter Jackson's version of The Hobbit. Blu-Ray.
     Not pictured - purchased after the photo was taken.
117. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack
     Not pictured.
118. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug soundtrack
     Not pictured.
119. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies soundtrack
     Not pictured.
120. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Origin of the Rings
     DVD. A waste of a hour it's that bad. Not pictured as I can't find it. I might have sold it on. Unfortunately I have to report since that that is not true. I still own this one.
121. Tolkien Treasury
     A little gift-book of quotes. Not pictured. 
122. The Song of Middle-Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien's Themes, Symbols and Myths - David Harvey
     Not pictured
123. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Secret Vice - Tolkien on Invented Languages - eds. Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins
     An expanded edition of A Secret Vice originally published in The Monsters and the Critics. Not pictured - purchased after these photos were taken.
124. The Oxford Inklings - Colin Duriez
     Not pictured - purchased after these photos were taken.

Close-ups of the collection:

The left-most portion of my Tolkien collection

The center portion of the collection

The right end of the collection