--- product_id: 451951538 title: "Silmarillion" price: "KD 17.60" currency: KWD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/451951538-silmarillion store_origin: KW region: Kuwait --- # Original Tolkien color illustrations Definitive Tolkien lore compendium Includes detailed Beleriand maps Silmarillion **Price:** KD 17.60 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🌟 Own the gateway to Tolkien’s legendarium — where art, myth, and history collide! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Silmarillion - **How much does it cost?** KD 17.60 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.kw](https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/451951538-silmarillion) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Collector’s Edition Quality:** Elegantly bound with sewn bindings, ribbon bookmark, runic foredge, and a beautifully detailed dust jacket—an instant heirloom for your shelf. - • **Maps That Bring Middle-earth to Life:** Two color maps of Beleriand included, enhancing your journey through the ancient lands and battles of the Elder Days. - • **Dive into Tolkien’s Creative Genius:** Experience Middle-earth through J.R.R. Tolkien’s own vivid paintings and drawings, a rare glimpse into the author’s artistic vision. - • **Exclusive Insight from Tolkien’s Letters:** Includes a 1951 letter by Tolkien offering a brilliant exposition of the earlier Ages, deepening your understanding of the legendarium. - • **Epic Mythology Meets Masterful Storytelling:** Explore the foundational history of Middle-earth, from the Creation to the rise of Morgoth and the heroic wars of the Elves. ## Overview The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (Tolkien Editions) is a premium collector’s edition presenting Tolkien’s seminal mythological history of Middle-earth, enhanced with his original color illustrations and drawings. Edited posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien, this edition includes foundational tales from the Creation to the Third Age, exclusive letters, and detailed maps of Beleriand. Perfect for serious Tolkien enthusiasts and fantasy scholars, it offers an unparalleled deep dive into the lore that shaped The Lord of the Rings. ## Description Experience Middle-earth like never before in this special edition of the forerunner to The Lord of the Rings , illustrated throughout in color by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. The Silmarillion is a doorway to the history, mythology, key characters, and defining tales of the early ages of Middle-earth—an essential volume for any Tolkien reader eager for a deeper journey. The Silmarilli were three perfect jewels, fashioned by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves, and within them was imprisoned the last Light of the Two Trees of Valinor. But the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, stole the jewels and set them within his iron crown, guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth. This high fantasy saga is the history of the rebellion of Fëanor and his kindred against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and their war, hopeless despite all the heroism, against the great Enemy. The Silmarillion is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part. The book also includes several shorter works that expand on Tolkien's world-building: the Ainulindalë , a myth of the Creation, and the Valaquenta , in which the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabêth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age, and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien could not publish The Silmarillion in his lifetime, as it grew with him, so he would leave it to his son, Christopher Tolkien, to edit the work from many manuscripts and bring his father’s great vision to publishable form, so completing this epic fantasy masterpiece and the literary achievement of a lifetime. This special edition presents anew this seminal first step towards mapping out the posthumous publishing of Middle-earth, and the beginning of an illustrious forty years and more than twenty books celebrating his father’s legacy. This definitive new edition includes, by way of an introduction, a letter written by Tolkien in 1951 which provides a brilliant exposition of the earlier Ages, and for the first time in its history is presented with Tolkien’s own paintings and drawings, which reveal the breathtaking grandeur and beauty of his vision of the First Age of Middle-earth, the foundation of his complete legendarium. This foundational history of the Elder Days is the bedrock of Tolkien’s entire legendarium, featuring: The Music of Creation: From the Music of the Ainur that sang the world into being to the forging of the Silmarils—three perfect jewels that held the last Light of the Two Trees of Valinor. The First Dark Lord: Witness the rise of Morgoth, the great Enemy, and his theft of the Silmarils, setting in motion a hopeless, heroic war that defines an age for all of Middle-earth. The Exile of the Noldor: Discover the history of Fëanor’s rebellion and the flight of the Elves from Valinor, an ancient drama that characters like Elrond and Galadriel look back on with sorrow. Illustrations by the Author: For the first time in its history, experience Tolkien’s vision in his own breathtaking paintings and drawings, revealing the grandeur and beauty of the First Age. Lost Tales of the Elder Days: Explore shorter works covering the myth of Creation, the nature of the gods, the catastrophic downfall of the island kingdom of Númenor, and the history of the Rings of Power. Review: A beautiful edition of The Silmarillion - The "Tolkien illustrated editions" are editions that incorporate J.R.R. Tolkien's own illustrations and drawings. If what you're looking for is a big, fancy book with professionally-painted illustrations throughout, then what you're looking for is probably the 2004 hardcover edition with illustrations by Ted Nasmith, a fantastic edition on its own merits. However, this edition will probably be of more interest to those hardcore Tolkien enthusiasts who are more interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's creative process than they are in having illustrations for the sake of having illustrations... so, your mileage may vary on that. As to the quality of this hardcover edition, it's fantastic. Aesthetically pleasing as a tome on one's shelf, and particularly nice-looking when set beside the matching Tolkien Illustrated "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit," this edition is both a fantastic collector's book and a fantastic way to READ the book. And as a bonus, it comes with two printed color maps of the Beleriand region of Middle-earth: one that is more fully colored and the other which is a simple "parchment brown." This is a step up from the maps included with the similar edition of The Lord of the Rings, which while they incorporate red text are otherwise merely black-and-white. The maps are still small-size print-outs on otherwise ordinary paper, however, so treat them with care. It should be stated that "The Silmarillion" is not a book to dive into lightly and is best approached by one who has already developed a strong interest in Middle-earth's history through "The Lord of the Rings," or else by a fantasy-literature veteran with a number of relatively dense novels under their belt. While not especially long, it is not written or structured as a traditional fantasy novel would be, but rather as a mythological history—reading "The Silmarillion" is a bit like reading translations of old mythology, or like reading the Bible (except for the long portions of the Bible dedicated to laying down religious law, of course). Rather than telling just one ongoing narrative as "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" do, it lays out the history of Arda, Tolkien's world, from creation up to and including the background lore for the events before and (somewhat) during The Lord of the Rings, with different parts of the book being more or less detailed than others—many portions of the story being told in a distant historical/mythological mode rather than the scene-by-scene, in-the-character's-head mode novels favor. It is best to view "The Silmarillion" as Tolkien intended it to be viewed, as his narrative-framing conceit for all of his Middle-earth writings characterized them: as translated and assembled documents of the long-past history of Middle-earth itself. Indeed, because of the way "The Silmarillion" was posthumously assembled and edited together by Tolkien's son Christopher from the disparate parts and pieces of evolving, unfinished work he left behind, that characterization bears a kind of incidental authenticity in the structure and styles within the book itself. If "The Lord of the Rings" is a classic trailblazer of fantasy literature, then "The Silmarillion" is the gateway that separates Lord of the Rings fans from "Tolkien scholars..." those dedicated fans of Middle-earth who enjoy delving into all of the writings Tolkien left behind to glean as much as they can about his world beyond what is merely included in the main three books. Review: The Silmarillion As It Was Meant To Be - J.R.R. Tolkien worked on the tales which eventually became known as The Silmarillion for most of his life, beginning as a young schoolboy in the early 1900s and continuing through his years as a student at Oxford, his wartime service, and his long career as a scholar and professor. The Silmarillion is a prologue of sorts to Tolkien's better known books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, both of which contain numerous references to characters and events found therein. Tolkien never finished working on The Silmarillion, and after his death in 1973 his youngest son Christopher took on the task of editing and preparing the work for publication in 1977. The Silmarillion's appearance in print was a joyous moment in the lives of everyone who had fallen in love with Tolkien's world, and it continues to amaze and delight new readers. To summarize the plot briefly, The Silmarillion is the history of the creation of the three magnificent gems called the Silmarils or Silmarilli by Feanor, greatest of all the Elves. Morgoth, the Great Enemy, stole the Silmarils, and Feanor and his fellow Elves waged a long and destructive war to regain them. That's an extremely brief recapitulation of a tale that involves hundreds of characters and many, many, chapters in the finished work. Besides The Silmarillion itself the book also contains the Ainulindalie or Creation Story, the Valaquenta, detailing the history of the Valar, the Akallabeth on the history of Numenor in the Second Age, and Of The Rings Of Power And The Third Age, a summation of the later years of Middle-earth and the fall of Morgoth's chief servant Sauron. This edition of The Silmarillion is absolutely beautiful. It is elegantly produced with sewn bindings, a ribbon bookmark, runic writing on the foredge, and magnificent designs on the cover. The dust jacket is beautifully detailed as well. But the greatest treasure of this edition are the illustrations by Tolkien himself. Tolkien was a talented artist who created many illustrations and drawings throughout his life. This edition contains many of these designs, heading each chapter and including several full page paintings. Not all of them have direct relationships with the text of The Silmarillion, but all of them enhance the beauty of the book. There are also two maps of Beleriand included (but not attached to) with the book. A foreword written by Christopher Tolkien for the original 1977 edition is included, along with a preface to the Second Edition written later, an excerpt from a lengthy letter by J.R.R. Tolkien providing a synopsis of his creation, and a Note on the Illustrations by the notable Tolkien scholars Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull. This sumptuous edition of The Silmarillion will give pleasure to its readers for many years. It is worthy of being shelved in a library in Rivendell, Minas Tirith, Lothlorien, or even Bag End, and, frankly, it is worthy of its author. ## Features - William Morrow - The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (Tolkien Editions) (Tolkien Illustrated Editions) ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #2,395 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction (Books) #49 in Military Fantasy (Books) #53 in War Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.9 out of 5 stars 3,487 Reviews | ## Images ![Silmarillion - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71OlFxwcp3L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful edition of The Silmarillion *by V***E on October 4, 2023* The "Tolkien illustrated editions" are editions that incorporate J.R.R. Tolkien's own illustrations and drawings. If what you're looking for is a big, fancy book with professionally-painted illustrations throughout, then what you're looking for is probably the 2004 hardcover edition with illustrations by Ted Nasmith, a fantastic edition on its own merits. However, this edition will probably be of more interest to those hardcore Tolkien enthusiasts who are more interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's creative process than they are in having illustrations for the sake of having illustrations... so, your mileage may vary on that. As to the quality of this hardcover edition, it's fantastic. Aesthetically pleasing as a tome on one's shelf, and particularly nice-looking when set beside the matching Tolkien Illustrated "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit," this edition is both a fantastic collector's book and a fantastic way to READ the book. And as a bonus, it comes with two printed color maps of the Beleriand region of Middle-earth: one that is more fully colored and the other which is a simple "parchment brown." This is a step up from the maps included with the similar edition of The Lord of the Rings, which while they incorporate red text are otherwise merely black-and-white. The maps are still small-size print-outs on otherwise ordinary paper, however, so treat them with care. It should be stated that "The Silmarillion" is not a book to dive into lightly and is best approached by one who has already developed a strong interest in Middle-earth's history through "The Lord of the Rings," or else by a fantasy-literature veteran with a number of relatively dense novels under their belt. While not especially long, it is not written or structured as a traditional fantasy novel would be, but rather as a mythological history—reading "The Silmarillion" is a bit like reading translations of old mythology, or like reading the Bible (except for the long portions of the Bible dedicated to laying down religious law, of course). Rather than telling just one ongoing narrative as "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" do, it lays out the history of Arda, Tolkien's world, from creation up to and including the background lore for the events before and (somewhat) during The Lord of the Rings, with different parts of the book being more or less detailed than others—many portions of the story being told in a distant historical/mythological mode rather than the scene-by-scene, in-the-character's-head mode novels favor. It is best to view "The Silmarillion" as Tolkien intended it to be viewed, as his narrative-framing conceit for all of his Middle-earth writings characterized them: as translated and assembled documents of the long-past history of Middle-earth itself. Indeed, because of the way "The Silmarillion" was posthumously assembled and edited together by Tolkien's son Christopher from the disparate parts and pieces of evolving, unfinished work he left behind, that characterization bears a kind of incidental authenticity in the structure and styles within the book itself. If "The Lord of the Rings" is a classic trailblazer of fantasy literature, then "The Silmarillion" is the gateway that separates Lord of the Rings fans from "Tolkien scholars..." those dedicated fans of Middle-earth who enjoy delving into all of the writings Tolkien left behind to glean as much as they can about his world beyond what is merely included in the main three books. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Silmarillion As It Was Meant To Be *by J***D on November 9, 2022* J.R.R. Tolkien worked on the tales which eventually became known as The Silmarillion for most of his life, beginning as a young schoolboy in the early 1900s and continuing through his years as a student at Oxford, his wartime service, and his long career as a scholar and professor. The Silmarillion is a prologue of sorts to Tolkien's better known books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, both of which contain numerous references to characters and events found therein. Tolkien never finished working on The Silmarillion, and after his death in 1973 his youngest son Christopher took on the task of editing and preparing the work for publication in 1977. The Silmarillion's appearance in print was a joyous moment in the lives of everyone who had fallen in love with Tolkien's world, and it continues to amaze and delight new readers. To summarize the plot briefly, The Silmarillion is the history of the creation of the three magnificent gems called the Silmarils or Silmarilli by Feanor, greatest of all the Elves. Morgoth, the Great Enemy, stole the Silmarils, and Feanor and his fellow Elves waged a long and destructive war to regain them. That's an extremely brief recapitulation of a tale that involves hundreds of characters and many, many, chapters in the finished work. Besides The Silmarillion itself the book also contains the Ainulindalie or Creation Story, the Valaquenta, detailing the history of the Valar, the Akallabeth on the history of Numenor in the Second Age, and Of The Rings Of Power And The Third Age, a summation of the later years of Middle-earth and the fall of Morgoth's chief servant Sauron. This edition of The Silmarillion is absolutely beautiful. It is elegantly produced with sewn bindings, a ribbon bookmark, runic writing on the foredge, and magnificent designs on the cover. The dust jacket is beautifully detailed as well. But the greatest treasure of this edition are the illustrations by Tolkien himself. Tolkien was a talented artist who created many illustrations and drawings throughout his life. This edition contains many of these designs, heading each chapter and including several full page paintings. Not all of them have direct relationships with the text of The Silmarillion, but all of them enhance the beauty of the book. There are also two maps of Beleriand included (but not attached to) with the book. A foreword written by Christopher Tolkien for the original 1977 edition is included, along with a preface to the Second Edition written later, an excerpt from a lengthy letter by J.R.R. Tolkien providing a synopsis of his creation, and a Note on the Illustrations by the notable Tolkien scholars Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull. This sumptuous edition of The Silmarillion will give pleasure to its readers for many years. It is worthy of being shelved in a library in Rivendell, Minas Tirith, Lothlorien, or even Bag End, and, frankly, it is worthy of its author. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Enchanting Masterpiece: The Illustrated Edition of "The Silmarillion" Transcends Imagination *by J***O on June 19, 2023* "The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien" is an absolute treasure for any fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful storytelling. This edition, with its remarkable extras and bonuses, truly stands out from the regular version, elevating the reading experience to new heights. One of the most captivating aspects of this edition is the inclusion of illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. As you delve into the First Age of Middle-earth, you are accompanied by breathtaking visuals that bring Tolkien's vision to life. The illustrations not only showcase the grandeur and beauty of his artwork but also offer a unique glimpse into his creative process. The inclusion of hand-drawn maps of Middle Earth further enhances the immersive experience, allowing readers to trace the epic journeys of their favorite characters. The decision to print the complete text in two colors is a stroke of genius. The contrasting hues add a visually striking element to the pages, captivating the eye and enhancing the reading experience. Each word, each sentence, is imbued with an extra layer of significance, drawing readers even deeper into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's world. Another gem of this edition is the introduction penned by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. In a letter written in 1951, Tolkien provides invaluable insights into the earlier Ages of Middle-earth, shedding light on the history and mythology that underpin "The Silmarillion." This addition enriches the reading experience, allowing readers to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of the world Tolkien has created. Described as a definitive new edition, this illustrated masterpiece goes beyond being a mere book. It is a testament to Tolkien's artistic and literary achievements, a tribute to his enduring legacy. This edition showcases his unparalleled ability to weave a tale that transports readers to a world of wonder and magic. It is a collector's item, a cherished possession that will be passed down through generations, preserving the enchantment of Middle-earth for years to come. In conclusion, "The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien" is a must-have for any Tolkien enthusiast. It stands out from the regular version, offering a visual feast through Tolkien's own illustrations, a captivating two-color printing, an illuminating introduction, and a definitive presentation of his seminal work. It is a work of art in its own right, preserving and celebrating the brilliance of Tolkien's imagination. Indulge in this extraordinary edition and embark on a journey that will ignite your imagination and leave an indelible mark on your heart. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Silmarillion: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (Tolkien Editions) (Tolkien Illustrated Editions) - The Hobbit Illustrated by the Author: Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien (Tolkien Illustrated Editions) - The Lord of the Rings Illustrated (Tolkien Illustrated Editions) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/451951538-silmarillion](https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/451951538-silmarillion) --- *Product available on Desertcart Kuwait* *Store origin: KW* *Last updated: 2026-08-13*