The Tolkien Gift Guide & Collectibles

We start with a most remarkable letter from Tolkien available on auction today, the highest-priced Tolkien artifacts / books ever sold and then launch into a gift guide with some pretty amazing discounts available now, at least in the U.S., maybe everywhere. But long after those discounts are gone, here is a helpful list of Tolkien-themed gifts. In this episode we use affiliate links and offer a podcast-only discount code on one special item. The transcript contains links to all the goodies to help you find a perfect present for your fellow Tolkienites!

UPDATE: Hours after publication I spotted this desk that belonged to J.R.R. Tolkien for sale. It is believed LOTR was edited on it. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3r7pq9xlplo

Transcript

There is a current Sotheby’s auction
 J.R.R. Tolkien typed letter to Mary Newall

Starting Bid 5,000 GBP, expected to be between 6K, 8K GBP, closes Dec. 11, 2025.

The all-time highest Tolkien item paid
, a J.R.R. Tolkien Middle-earth manuscripts, £228,000. This manuscript consisted of calligraphic poems, detailed notes on the Elvish languages of Middle-earth, and 21 letters to composer Donald Swann—all written by Tolkien himself. Signed by the author.

Second highest paid for Tolkien item
This first edition Lord of the Rings complete book set sold, with for £151,200 on July 2003. This complete set is a first edition, first impression, complete with its original dust jackets, and including illustrations and maps in each volume.

Third on the list is a 1937 first edition copy of The Hobbit, which sold for £137,000 on June 4, 2015 — included four lines of handwritten Elvish.

Other Hobbit first editions have done well too.

The Lord of the Rings second edition, inscribed by the author in Elvish, £95,250

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Currently you can buy a 1937 first edition second impression and the first with color plates, of The Hobbit.


More things most of us can’t buy, a first edition “Lord of the Rings,” three books with maps and dust jackets and a Children’s Book Club first edition, third impression of “The Hobbit.”


Much more affordable current items: The 2026 Tolkien calendar.

This year’s calendar showcases 13 full-color paintings by Alan Lee of scenes from across the First Age of Middle-earth, depicting key moments from the three 'Great Tales' – The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien and The Fall of Gondolin.

History of Middle-earth or HOME in three volumes. 
This is a version of HOME that brings together all twelve books into three hardcover volumes—more than 5,000 pages of fascinating Tolkien material—and places them in one matching box. The History Of Middle-Earth Boxed Set is a treasured boxed set. It’s usually $250, right now it’s $80. I don’t have this; I just want this very much.

The Silmarillion illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien. 
This edition is illustrated throughout in color by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Use the Amazon to get 47%, or a price of $39.78 instead of the typical $75.


"The Silmarillion" deluxe edition, Tolkien illustrated — 

"The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien" Three-volume Box Set
 — The first-ever publication of the collected poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, spanning almost seven decades of the author’s life and presented in an elegant three-volume hardcover boxed set with a great introduction by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond and a chronology to apply dates to the content. Follow the link, it’s 45% off on Amazon at the time of recording.

A J.R.R. Tolkien £2 coin necklace.

This is hand made, and therefore unique treasure with the hard-to-find and expensive coins. They  keep selling out, but the jewelry makers / designer offered a 15% discount, use checkout code LOTR. A genuine coin from the UK, value £2 when minted, marking the 50th year since J.R.R. Tolkien’s death in 1973. These are limited so if they show sold out on the link, apologies but it’s difficult to say if they will be back in stock or when. (This is currency so King Charles is on one side, Tolkien’s monogram is facing out in the jewelry design.)

"The Hobbit" deluxe edition, illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien
It comes in a slipcover case, it features more than 50 sketches, drawings and paintings.  usually $190, now $107

Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of Thror’s Map and Wilderland, an illustrated 88-page booklet, and a printed art card reproducing Tolkien’s original dustjacket painting.

It is additionally quarterbound with raised ribs on the spine, stamped in three foils on black cloth boards, and housed in a custom-built clothbound slipcase. The pages are edged in gold and include a ribbon marker.

Part of a series of Tolkien illustrated editions, Hobbit, LOTR, all on sale


LOTR - https://amzn.to/3KFxjbZ


LOTR deluxe — https://amzn.to/3Kejykx


The Silmarillion — https://amzn.to/48KLlSR


The Hobbit — https://amzn.to/4pNdeiL

The Hobbit deluxe — https://amzn.to/49SXBll

Enjoy the Middle-earth shower curtain and bathroom set - https://amzn.to/4oqL6kx

Speak Friend and Enter outdoor welcome mat, 30’’x17’’  https://amzn.to/447HNrk

Middle-earth map on fleece blanket, $21, https://amzn.to/3MyRngG

Tree of Gondor blanket, a 50" x 60" microfiber fleece, $34.99 — https://amzn.to/3Xw6070

Horn of Gondor, crafted based on the actual filming prop used in The Lord of the Rings, built by the renowned Weta Workshop. https://amzn.to/48u7JOX

Helm of Eomer movie prop replica and I dislike the stand so very, very much, but if you love it congratulations, buy it for $399. I am not too excited about the seams on the helm which don’t look authentic, perhaps because of the paint or the material, but for the price, it doesn’t look right to my eye. There is also the helm of King Elendil  with its infinitely better stand, though I could do without the label. The helm should speak for itself. $349

Prop replica of Bilbo’s pipe -  typically $99, right now it’s $64, - I assume it’s urethane and non-functional like Gandalf’s replica pipe was. There is a website selling “Strider” pipes but they aren’t licensed, aren’t made based on movie props, so I am not sure what they really are except called “Strider pipes” but you can use them to smoke if you wish.

LEGO SETS

Barad Dur set https://amzn.to/4pI8tqP — $459

Shire — https://amzn.to/44pQ2PJ — $269, says 18+ 

😇

Balrog Book Nook https://amzn.to/445vTOH  — $129



Rivendell https://amzn.to/3Xvcmn9 —  $499

The Battle of the Goblin King https://amzn.to/3KGI4Lb — $427

Riddles for the Ring   https://amzn.to/4ozz4Wb — $124 —  — The description here from the Manufacturer:
“COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPYCOPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY” - so enjoy that

Battle of Five Armies https://amzn.to/4arIAqL — $189

Attack on Lake Town https://amzn.to/48xr95Q — $155

Thus ends the saga of Lego sets.

Things most people can’t buy: Cave Troll 1:4 scale. Limited to 300 and at $3,155 bonus version, standard version is $3,005 with the number manufactured yet to be announced. The bonus version includes an additional helmeted head for the armored orc.


Sideshow Collectibles Lord of the Rings products link: https://www.sideshow.com/search?keywords=Lord+of+the+Rings



Gimli 1:2 scale — $3,234 — This is a WOW piece. https://www.sideshow.com/collectibles/the-lord-of-the-rings-gimli-infinity-studio-912403



Arwen helm of Rohirrim 
This is a 1:4 scale helm in a line of such helms from the past of from both Sideshow Collectibles and Weta Workshop. This is from the filmed but never seen Arwen warrior costume. 


It’s also available at Target. https://www.target.com/p/weta-workshop-weta-workshop-mini-prop-replica-the-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-limited-edition-arwen-s-rohirrim-helm-1-4-scale/-/A-93141319

"Bilbo’s Last Song," a book — $14.75


"Atlas of Middle-earth
" https://amzn.to/3KiJY4B



Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur, Beowulf - https://amzn.to/3MevDGX - This is not about Middle-earth but is part of the Tolkien Podcast's scope.

It’s $51 instead of $125, something like 60% off and that’s a good price to get all of those books in one consistent style

"

Fall of Numenor & Other Tales of the Second Age of Middle-earth" a book — https://amzn.to/440selg


"Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth" a book with Alan Lee sketches and illustrations - https://amzn.to/3Y1rDMq — $16.16



"The Lord of the Rings" three volume deluxe set — https://amzn.to/48wnghl — A 1992 illustrated version but updated. This new hardcover set of this beautifully illustrated work features brand-new cover designs by the artist. The three volumes have additionally been enhanced for the first time with sprayed edges, and are housed in a custom-built, illustrated slipcase stamped in silver foil with designs created exclusively by Alan Lee. They are accompanied by three removable art cards, and two foldout maps of Middle-earth drawn by Christopher Tolkien.

Badali Jewelry — They are friends and Tolkien lovers. Paul Badali licensed the BOOK license for Tolkien jewelry a million years ago. He has passed but his daughters and probably others now have the business. They are at all kinds of nerd conventions around the US. Daughter Janell is a friend and if you ever see her at a show, tell her Larry Curtis said "hi."
https://badalijewelry.com/collections/middle-earth