J. R. R. Tolkien: Maps and Atlases

 

The Atlas of Middle-Earth: Revised Edition, by Karen Wynn Fonstad. (1991)

“An updated and authentic guide to the geography of J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Hobbit’, and ‘The Silmarillion’.” – from the cover. I used to have the old edition, in a cheap SFBC binding. Fairly dull in some ways, and a little of a ‘recreation’ by the cartographer in some parts.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Atlas. Fantasy. Hardback.

The Atlas of Middle-Earth, by Karen Wynn Fonstad. (1981)

An older, plainer edition I bought, God knows when or where. Is this the one I thought I’d sold (see elsewhere)? Anyway, I’ve got it. I guess I never really let anything Tolkien out of my hands.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Atlas. Fantasy. Hardback.

Journeys of Frodo, by Barbara Strachey. (1981)

“Journeys of Frodo is an Atlas of 51 maps charting the epic journey that Frodo, and his companions undertake in J.R.R.Tolkien's epic work, The Lord of the Rings. Based on clear and detailed descriptions given in the text and on the original maps that appear The Lord of the Rings, as well as Tolkien's own paintings and drawings of the landscape and features of Middle-earth, this book clearly shows Frodo's route, together with the paths taken by other principal characters. The maps provide enough detail to help the reader envisage the country through which the narrative moves, and each one also has extensive notes about the journey. Having loved the volumes of The Lord of the Rings since they first appeared, Barbara Strachey wanted fuller and more detailed maps to go with them. Though not a professional cartographer or artist, she finally decided to create them herself. For nearly 20 years her efforts have provided readers of The Lord of the Rings with a new and more vivid idea of Middle-earth and her book remains an essential look at Tolkien's great masterpiece.” – Amazon. Had this for quite a while, but also haven’t looked into it for quite a bit.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Atlas. Cartography. Fantasy. Softcover.

The Map of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, Text by Brian Sibley, Images by John Howe. (1994)

Technically a fold-out map, but as it contains a booklet by Brian Sibley on the significance on maps in Tolkien’s work and an explication of places mentioned on the map, I include it here. And I bought it at a bookstore.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Map. Booklet.

The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, by Brian Sibley and John Howe. (2003)

“Best-selling Tolkien expert Brian Sibley presents a slipcased collection of four full-color, large-format maps of Tolkien's imaginary realm illustrated by John Howe, a conceptual designer for the blockbuster films directed by Peter Jackson. The set includes a Hardback book describing in detail the importance and evolution of geography within Tolkien's epic fiction and four painted maps presented with minimal folds, including two (Beleriand and Númenor) never before published in this country.” – Amazon.

Ranking: Essential Keeper.

File Code: Maps. Fantasy. Hardback.