The Art of the Lord of the Rings (1st Edition, 1st Printing)

Condition: VG+. First American Edition, FIRST PRINTING, with full number line. Wide 4to. size, 240 pp. Black cloth with stamped cover designs and titles. High quality glossy photographic paper. A thoroughly illustrated, full-color art book containing sketches, drawings, paintings and maps created by Tolkien while writing of The Lord of the Rings. During its writing, J.R.R. Tolkien's mental pictures often found expression in drawing, from rough sketches made within the manuscript to more finished illustrations. Only a few of these were meant for publication; most were aids to help Tolkien conceive his complex story and keep it consistent. Many do not illustrate the final text, but represent moments of creation, illuminating Tolkien's process of writing and design. In addition to pictorial sketches, numerous maps follow the development of the Shire and the larger landscape of Middle-earth, while inscriptions in runes and Elvish script, and 'facsimile' leaves from the burned and blood-stained Book of Mazarbul, support Tolkien's pose as an 'editor' or 'translator' of ancient records. The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien collects these drawings, inscriptions, maps, and plans in one deluxe volume. More than 180 images are included, all of them printed in colour from high-quality scans and photographs, more than half not previously published. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, two of the world's leading Tolkien scholars, have edited the book and provide an expert introduction and comments. There is light wear to the spine head and heel, very light corner wear, and a couple of very slight bumps to the covers, but the covers are very clean and bright with no rubbing or scuffing. The text looks unread, but is very lightly yellowed towards the edges. In a VG dj with some areas of slight edgewear, mostly at the spine and flaps. Further protected by a Brodart sleeve. A very nice copy of a hard to find first printing.…