J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also drew the book covers. A new look at his personal designs shows the author’s own vision for his most famous works. The art includes a striking mark for The Fellowship of the Ring that later appeared on the first edition of the trilogy.
Tolkien’s Original Cover Art
Tolkien was a visual artist as well as a writer. He left behind over 100 illustrations for The Hobbit. One of those drawings appears on the 2011 HarperCollins 75th anniversary edition of the book.
He also created original cover designs for each book in the trilogy. The center of the design for The Fellowship of the Ring shows the eye of Sauron, surrounded by runes. The one ring sits on top.
That mark did grace the covers of the first edition of the trilogy. The covers were simple and elegant.
It is not clear if these designs ever made it into books published during Tolkien’s lifetime. The publication history of the trilogy is long and complex.
The Tolkien Professor’s Work
Corey Olsen, known as “The Tolkien Professor,” has made it his life’s work to open Tolkien’s world to students. He has an eight-part lecture series on The Hobbit.
Olsen’s work shows how intricate Tolkien’s world is. Its sources are vast and varied.
Fans, film makers, game and toy designers, and radio producers have all tried to adapt Tolkien’s work. None have surpassed the source.
This has never been true of the fully-realized fantasy world in The Hobbit and the trilogy. Not that it has ever been anyone’s intent.
Illustrators and the Master
Illustrators have done their best to visualize Tolkien’s world. They have worked for almost ninety years since The Hobbit was published.
More than seventy years have passed since the first appearance of the trilogy. Many artists have tried their hand at Middle-earth.
But perhaps no one did so better than the master himself. Tolkien’s own art carries a particular authority.
The Mark and the First Edition
The mark in the center of the Fellowship of the Ring design is the most notable element. It features the eye of Sauron.
Runes surround the eye. The one ring sits on top of the whole design.
This mark did grace the covers of the first edition of the trilogy. The covers were simple and elegant.
It is unknown if these designs ever made it into books published during Tolkien’s lifetime. The publication history of the trilogy is long and complex.
Tolkien’s Art in Print
Tolkien’s art received a full treatment in a 1995 book. The book is called J.R.R. Tolkien Artist & Illustrator.
That book covers over 60 years of Tolkien’s life as an artist. It is a key reference for his visual work.
The magic of flickr brings us this compendium of Tolkien illustrations. The online collection makes the art widely accessible.
| Work | Art Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Hobbit | Over 100 illustrations | One appears on the 2011 HarperCollins edition |
| The Lord of the Rings trilogy | Original cover designs | Mark used on first edition covers |
| J.R.R. Tolkien Artist & Illustrator | 1995 book | Covers over 60 years of Tolkien’s art |
Related Book Cover Stories
The art of the book cover has its own history. A TED talk explains the topic.
Vladimir Nabokov marveled over different Lolita book covers. The author had his own views on design.
Jack Kerouac made a hand-drawn cover for On the Road. That personal touch is part of the book’s story.
These examples show how authors engage with cover art. Tolkien is not alone in this practice.
The flickr Collection
The flickr collection brings Tolkien’s illustrations together in one place. It is a useful resource for fans and scholars.
This makes it possible to study Tolkien’s visual style in detail. The range of his work is clear.
A Note on the Post
An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in 2013. The current version refreshes the content.
Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC.
Tolkien’s art continues to find new audiences. The flickr collection is one way it does so.
The 1995 book remains a key source. It covers over 60 years of his artistic life.
That is a long career by any measure. Tolkien was productive in many fields.
His writing is his main legacy. But his art is a significant part of it.
The cover designs show his care for the books. He wanted them to look right.
The mark is a small detail. But it carries a lot of meaning.
It is a mark of his world. It is a sign of his craft.
Readers can now see these designs for themselves. The collection makes that possible.
Tolkien’s cover art matters for several reasons. It shows his role in the design of his books.
It also shows his skill as a visual artist. He was not just a writer.
The designs are part of the history of the trilogy. They are a piece of its publication story.
The mark on the first edition covers is a key detail. It connects the author to the final result.
Tolkien had a clear vision. He put it on paper.
The collection lets us see that vision. It is a gift to readers.
The art is also a window into his process. It shows how he imagined his world.
That world is detailed and consistent. The art reflects that.
It is no surprise that adaptations have not surpassed the source. Tolkien’s own vision is hard to beat.
His art is part of that vision. It is worth seeing.
The collection is easy to access. It is on flickr.
Fans can study it at their leisure. Scholars can use it for research.
It is a practical tool. It is also a pleasure.
The designs for the trilogy are simple. They are also striking.
The Fellowship of the Ring design is the most famous. It features the eye of Sauron.
Tolkien’s art has a long history in print. The 1995 book is the deeper source. But the flickr collection is easier to look through.
Both are valuable. They serve different needs.
For a quick look, the collection is best. For a full study, the book is better.
Either way, the art is there to see. That is the main thing.
Tolkien’s covers are part of his legacy. They are a small but important part.
They show his care for the books. They show his talent.
Readers can now enjoy them. That is a good thing.
Source: openculture.com
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