To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, HarperCollins has just released The Art of The Hobbit edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. The sumptuous art book contains a complete collection of 110 drawings, paintings, sketches, maps and illustrations by Tolkien never published together before. In fact, many of the works were hidden away in an archive at the Bodleian Library in Oxford since Tolkien’s death.

The beautiful slipcase edition includes the original sketches for the first edition covers by the author. Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist whose admiration for the illustrator Arthur Rackham clearly shows in the art work for The Hobbit.

Although The Hobbit was actually published in September, 1937, HarperCollins is kicking-off the 75th anniversary celebrations a wee bit early to capitalize on the upcoming release of the Peter jackson film of The Hobbit.