The Lord of the Rings Gift Guide: The Die-hard Fan Edition
One of the wonderful things about the rich tapestry of Tolkien's legendarium is just how deep the well goes, and the fact that you can delve as deep as you'd like into it. Dipping your toe in by watching the films once or twice is perfectly valid, but for others there's a need to read every book Tolkien ever wrote, or to watch the extended editions of the films complete with their lengthy behind the scenes content.
Some fans simply can't get enough. But the problem then arises, what do you get for the fan who has everything? Well, this gift guide is designed for you to find something for the Tolkien fan in your life that they might not already have, whether it's deluxe editions, high quality replicas or merch that only a true fan would have.
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For the die-hard fan....
Helm of King Théoden
This finely detailed helmet is an official replica of the helmet worn by actor Bernard Hill during the filming of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since J. R. R. Tolkien was heavily inspired by Anglo-Saxon culture when creating the kingdom of Rohan, the helmet is reminiscent of the famous Sutton Hoo helmet found in Suffolk. Exquisitely rendered in intricate detail, this helmet is crafted from a mix of reinforced polyresin and genuine leather, with moulded details and colouring.
Beowulf Deluxe Slipcase
The influence that the epic tale of Beowulf had on Tolkien is hard to overstate. He taught it to his university students, deliberated over the language, and even wrote an Old English folk-tale origin for the epic poem called Sellic Spell. His translation, later edited and released by his son Christopher, has now been bundled together with his celebrated essays on the text and with Sellic Spell, to create the definitive compilation of Tolkien’s work on the poem. This deluxe slipcase edition from Harper Collins is undoubtedly the most beautiful edition there is.
Reader’s Companion Box Set
Created for the 60th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings in 2014, this high-quality hardback set of the trilogy comes adorned in Tolkien’s own designs for the dust jackets, and includes the Reader’s Companion by Tolkien scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. It’s arguably the definitive set for hardcore Lord of the Rings fans.
Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien
One of the things you learn about Tolkien as you read more about his life is that he was not just a writer and an academic but also a poet and an artist. Though he wasn't always as confident about his talents as a painter, a lot of his work is beautiful and evocative. Some of the best representations we have of his legendarium come not from artists like John Howe, Alan Lee, and Ted Naismith, but Tolkien himself. The collection Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien is a particularly great selection compiled by his son Christopher Tolkien.
The Atlas of Tolkien's Middle-earth
This well-researched and detailed look into the cartography of Tolkien's imagined worlds is perhaps the best work there is on the geography of Arda. From his early mythology to the Middle-earth of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, there's no better way to visualise and map out his stories, and thus see them in an entirely new light.
The Great Tales of the First Age
Tolkien's epic tale, The Silmarillion, is in truth not just one story so much as a collection of ancient myths and stories relating to the First Age and the various battles of the Elves and the Valar against Melkor, or Morgoth. Contained within it are three stories that have come to be known as the Great Tales of the First Age, namely The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, and The Fall of Gondolin. These have all since been released in standalone and expanded editions, collecting various incarnations of the story edited together by Christopher Tolkien. Reading them is the natural next step after reading the main three of The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit Facsimile Gift Edition
This special gift box edition of The Hobbit is easily overlooked but it's an absolute must for fans of the book, because it contains a recreation of the first edition. What many folks don't know is that Tolkien actually rewrote sections of The Hobbit to bring it more in line with The Lord of the Rings, including an almost total rewrite of the Riddles in the Dark chapter. In this version, for instance, Gollum simply gives up the Ring after losing the riddle contest. It also includes an exclusive CD of archive recordings that capture Tolkien reading from The Hobbit, a special copy of Thror’s map which reveals the secret moon-runes when held to the light (as Tolkien originally intended), and an accompanying booklet that relates the history of The Hobbit, and includes connected writings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Lord of the Rings Gift Guide: Top Presents for the Tolkien Obsessed
Not sure what to buy your Tolkien-loving friend for their birthday, or that one family member who repeatedly binges the films for Christmas? We’ve got your back.
We've broken our gift guide down into some key areas to help you find the perfect gift for your favourite Tolkien fan.