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The Fellowship participating in a White Oliphaunt gift exchange with the Elves of Lórien. Wait…er…. Credit: New Line Cinema
Mae govannen, friends!
The holiday season is fast approaching and you may be looking for the perfect gift for that Lord of the Rings fanatic in your life (maybe that’s you!). If so, you’re in luck.
The Jokien with Tolkien gift guide is back and it’s better than ever! I’ve expanded and updated the list from last year, adding many new items and keeping some favorites from last year to assemble a wide range of gift options from many categories and for all budgets.
So read on to check out some ideas for gifts as perfect as the ones Galadriel gave to the Fellowship as they set out from Lothlórien on their journey.
A quick note: Substack is warning me that this post is “too long for email.” If/when it cuts off at some point, just open it in this newsletter Substack app or online or click “view entire message” and that should take care of it!
Is it really a Jokien with Tolkien gift guide without this line? Credit: New Line Cinema
Table of Contents
Editor’s Choice Awards
Tolkien Books
Tolkien in Other Media
Life Accessories
Splurges
Editor’s Choice Awards
Before we get into the separate categories, I’d like to highlight three gifts as my Editor’s Choice awards for this year! These gifts are ones I think deserve special attention and represent the best in their respective categories.
Looking for the perfect gift for the fantasy lover in your life? Check out Wicked Warlock’s catalogue of fantasy-themed candles! Burn “Dragon’s Lair” while watching The Hobbit trilogy together, give the D&D lover in your life “Tavern” or “Dwarven Mine” to take along to their next session, or light “Elven City” while curled up with a copy of The Silmarillion and a mug of hot coffee or tea.
I’ve done each of the above and have gotten compliments from both my D&D group and from my family members on the scents of the candles and their high quality.
Best of all, Wicked Warlock has partnered with me to give Jokien with Tolkien readers a discount code that’s good from now until December 2nd!
(or use HOARD20 on any 3 candles or HOARD40 on any 7!)
The Four Boxed Sets of The History of Middle-earth — ‘Tolkien Books’ Editor’s Choice
This gorgeous edition of The History of Middle-earth is probably my favorite part of my (ever expanding) Tolkien library! Collecting The Silmarillion,Unfinished Tales, and The History of Middle-earth’s 12 volumes, these four Box Sets would make an excellent gift this holiday season. Start them off with just the first set to get them started on their journey or give a kingly gift of all four sets!
This gift set of the Theatrical and Extended Editions of LOTR in 4K Ultra HD comes in a new book packaging with faux-leather finish, gold foil, embossing and a Noble Collection One Ring Replica! Preorder it now to get it delivered on the release day of December 20th! (I just bought the 4K versions myself last year but now kinda wish I’d waited…lol)
Tolkien Books
Let’s start at the beginning. BOOKS. None of the rest of the items on this list would exist without the books Tolkien wrote. So what are some gift-worthy books by and about Tolkien?
The Hobbit— in addition to the edition illustrated by Tolkien and new collector’s editions mentioned above, there is an edition of The Hobbit illustrated by Jemima Catlin that would be perfect for younger readers. Also check out this 70th Anniversary Edition, which would make an excellent upgrade from a paperback copy. Finally, consider a 2016 Facsimile First Edition of The Hobbit. This version reproduces the 1937 edition, with all the differences including the original version of the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter. That’s right, there are multiple versions of this chapter and you can read it for yourself in this version!
Hobbit/LOTR Box Sets — “What have I got in my pocket?” The answer could very easily be one of the volumes of this Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set with The Hobbit and LOTR. I love it as a gift because it’s affordable, looks incredible, and you can take any of the volumes with you wherever you go! This set of The Hobbit and LOTR Illustrated by Alan Lee (both on the covers and throughout) is also stunning. I personally received it as a gift a few years ago and it’s incredible!
The Silmarillion — if the above Illustrated by the Author Edition listed in The Lord of the Rings section or the gorgeous new collector’s edition mentioned there (seriously, look at that cover with Telperion and Laurelin!) don’t do it for you, I’d also recommend this hardcover edition of The Silmarillion with illustrations by Ted Nasmith. Editor’s Note: want to go above and beyond for your LOTR fan? Do your research and hunt down a first edition Silmarillion for them! The first edition was a large print run, so they’re still readily available and don’t cost as much as you might think (less than $50 if you just want a general first edition, closer to around $100 if you want a first edition that’s a first impression as well).
The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien — this set was almost my editor’s choice for this category! This set presents almost 200 works of poetry by Tolkien across three volumes, including more than 60 that have never before been seen. Together with critical commentary on the author and his work and packaged in a wonderful set, this collection would make a splendid gift!
The Great Tales of Middle-earth — though you can find versions of all three stories in The Silmarillion and The History of Middle-earth, The Great Tales of Middle-earth collects The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, and The Fall of Gondolinin one box set. These books contain not just the “final” versions of these tales as they appeared in The Silmarillion but also other versions from earlier or later in Tolkien’s life.
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded — this revised and expanded edition of Tolkien’s letters would make a wonderful gift for the Tolkien fan in your life who wants to know more about the Professor himself
The Mythmakers — this splendid graphic novel depicts the friendship of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis with and examines how they shaped their stories, each other, and the world! One of my favorite books I read this year
Lore of the Rings Volume 1 — my book is now available on Amazon and would look amazing under the tree or in a stocking for any Tolkien fan! (ok, so I’m biased lol). Collecting ten essays previously only available to paid subscribers of Jokien with Tolkien, this volume is perfect for the LOTR fan wanting to go deeper into the lore of LOTR!
Tolkien & Pop Culture Volume 1 — This inaugural volume from Nick of The Tolkien Society and Tolkien Pop! Substack collects essays that were once only available online that explores the intersection of Tolkien and aspects of pop culture. Check it out and support other great work on Tolkien going on here on Substack!
Nota Bene: most of the above links are to Amazon, but if some of the books I highlighted above caught your eye and you don’t want to support the Evil Empire of bookstores, I have most all of the same titles available in a shop on Bookshop.org, where the profits from every purchase go to support the local bookstore of your choice! Check it out here: Jokien with Tolkien on Bookshop
Tolkien in Other Media
While everything began with the books, that’s hardly how it’s stayed! Here are some gift ideas from the various adaptations of Tolkien’s stories:
Rankin/Bass and Ralph Bakshi Films — the animated versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Return of the King are each charming in their ways. If you didn’t see them as a child you might not see them quite as fondly, but they’re worth seeing and all entertaining
Music from The Lord of the Rings and The Rings of Power on vinyl — give the audiophile in your life a new way to experience the epic scores of these adaptations with selections from Howard Shore’s LOTR Soundtrack and Bear McCreary’s Season 1 and Season 2 soundtracks to Rings of Power.
Life Accessories
You’ve read the books, you’ve watched the movies, now you want something to take with you every day to help bring some of that LOTR-related joy with you!
Jokien with Tolkien Gear— Want to wear some Lord of the Rings gear and rep the newsletter at the same time? I’ve got you covered! Check out all the designs in my shop, but especially last year’s most popular one by a mile, Another Reindeer
2025 Shire Diary— I had the 2024 version and absolutely loved it! Plan your year with quotes and events from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit interspersed chronologically and thematically throughout the planner
Map of Middle-earth Throw Blanket — get cozy for your next Extended Edition marathon with this throw blanket that has the map of Middle-earth on it! trace each step of the journey of the Fellowship as they take it on the very blanket you’re under
Speak Friend and Enter Doormat — one of the top gifts each year I’ve done this guide! Welcome visitors to your humble abode with a doormat inscribed with instructions for how to open your doors. Speak, friend, and enter (watcher in the water for your front yard pool sold separately).
LOTR Watercolors — decorate your work or living space with these lovely depictions of Bag End, the Doors of Durin, and J.R.R. Tolkien himself!!
Board Games — The Lord of The Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth and War of the Ring are both excellent games based on the world and events of Middle-earth. The former is a quicker game that takes 30 minutes or so while the latter is an advanced strategy game that will take hours to complete
DROP + The Lord of the Rings Keyboards—I absolutely love these keyboards from Drop (and no, I don’t think that stands for ‘Da Rings Of Power’)! For the Tolkien fan who has to spend lots of time in front of the computer and wants to make their workspace a little bit more awesome. My favorites are their Elvish, Black Speech, and Rohan keyboards:
Tolkien 2023 UK £2 Coin —last year the Royal Mint released a coin commemorating Tolkien and his life’s work. You can get your very own non-fungible Tolkien directly from the Royal Mint’s website (the rarer and more expensive options are all no longer available, but you can still snag an uncirculated coin in mint condition)
Splurges / Collectables
Want to give a kingly gift whose worth is greater than the value of the Shire? Well, these aren’t quite as valuable as a shirt of Mithril, but they’re close.
LEGO Rivendell and LEGO Barad-dûr— Just look at them! They’re spectacular! Either would make a magnificent gift for the LOTR fan in your life.
Deluxe Illustrated by the Author Editions of The Hobbit, LOTR, and The Silmarillion — each of the editions of these books that has an “Illustrated by the Author” edition I mentioned earlier has a deluxe edition as well. Find them here: Deluxe The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings,The Silmarillion
Prop Replicas from Weta Workshop — this is the ultimate gift for a fan of the Peter Jackson films: get a replica of one of the very props from the movies! The selection regularly rotates to new items: currently they have replicas of Gimli, Saruman, and Aragorn’s pipes available!
Thank you so much for reading! Hope that you find something you can give as a gift or that you can get yourself. I’ll be back in your inboxes next week. Farewell, friends. Go towards goodness!
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I'll vouch for the animated "Hobbit"- seeing it was part of my introduction to Tolkien in elementary school and I remember how vivid the animation was. (And that all-star voice actor cast!).
I'll vouch for the animated "Hobbit"- seeing it was part of my introduction to Tolkien in elementary school and I remember how vivid the animation was. (And that all-star voice actor cast!).
Thanks for sharing my book, Josh! Excited to add some of these to my holiday wishlist 🤘🏼