This is a stunning SIGNED set of both the LORD OF THE RINGS SKETCHBOOK and THE HOBBIT SKETCHBOOK by the remarkably talented illustrator, ALAN LEE. Alan Lee was invited to illustrate the centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings, which led to further Tolkien editions, including The Hobbit and the three ‘Great Tales’: The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, The Fall of Gondolin and The Fall of Numenor. He worked as Conceptual Designer and Set Decorator on both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, receiving the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for his work on The Return of the King. Both books are Signed First Edition, First Printing, UK Hardbacks. First Prints of the 2005 UK title are now extremely rare and very collectible, particularly in this NEW & UNREAD condition: (1) The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook (2005) - including a foreword by Ian McKellen B/w drawings and sketches throughout, end paper maps, bound in ribbon, pictorial boards, text Illustrated with over 150 of Alan Lee's sketches. A sumptuous large-format hardback containing sketches and paintings from the illustrated Lord of the Rings, together with brand new and previously unseen material. In this large-format hardback Alan Lee reveals in pictures and in words how he created the images in the authorised illustrated edition of The Lord of the Rings. These images would prove so powerful, matching perfectly with Tolkien’s own vision, that they would eventually define the look of Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy and earn Alan a coveted Academy Award. The book is filled with over 150 of his sketches and early conceptual pieces to show how the project progressed from idea to finished art. It also contains 20 colour paintings reproduced in full-page glory, together with numerous examples of his conceptual art produced for the films and brand new pieces drawn specially for this book. It also includes an exclusive foreword written by Sir Ian McKellen. The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook provides a fascinating insight into the imagination of the man who painted Tolkien’s vision, firstly onto the page and then in three dimensions on the cinema screen. It will also be of interest to many of the 100,000 people who have bought the illustrated Lord of the Rings as well as for budding artists and illustrators interested in unlocking the secrets of book illustration.(2) The Hobbit Sketchbook (2019) The Hobbit Sketchbook is filled with more than 100 of Alan's sketches and early conceptual pieces that reveal how the project progressed from idea to finished art. It also contains a wealth of brand-new full-colour paintings and sketches drawn specially for this book, which unlock the secrets of how Alan creates his own magic and provide a fascinating insight into the imagination of the man who breathed new life into Tolkien's vision. This richly illustrated book celebrates in words and pictures the beautiful work that award-winning artist Alan Lee produced for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and includes dozens of brand-new paintings and pencil drawings exploring the world of Bilbo Baggins. Since The Hobbit was first published in 1937, generations of readers have fallen under its spell. That magic was reignited sixty years later, when Alan Lee was commissioned to produce a special illustrated edition, and his delicate pencil drawings and beautiful watercolour paintings have become for many the definitive vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. In this sumptuous, large-format hardback Alan Lee reveals in pictures and in words how he created these images, which would prove so powerful, matching perfectly with Tolkien's own vision, that they would eventually define the look of Peter Jackson's film adaptations and earn Alan a coveted Academy Award. Both books are NEW and UNREAD.They have been carefully stored since purchase and opened only to receive Alan's signature and to take the photographs for this listing. The books and their dust jackets are both in FINE condition. The books are tight and square. The text blocks are toning evenly with age and they are otherwise bright and clean. There are no spine leans. All corners are sharp and intact. There is no pushing or bruising to the spines. The books and their jackets are bright and clean. There is no sunning or fading.The jackets are each protected by an inert, removable cellophane wrapper. Neither are price-clipped. There is some very minor fraying to the end of the bound in ribbon of book (1), due to its age and shelf wear over the past 18 years. The books will be very well protected in bubble wrap and posted out with great care. I have collected quality signed first edition books for over 30 years and I appreciate the importance of an accurate and conservative description of a book's condition and attributes to a potential buyer. Please look carefully at the photos in this listing and ask me any questions that you may have. I want you to be delighted with your purchase from me and to have no surprises whatsoever. These books will be very well protected in bubble wrap within a sturdy book box and they will be shipped out with great care. The parcel will be sent via the Royal Mail Special delivery service to all UK destinations. International sales will be handled only by ebay's global selling programme. The international shipping rates quoted are generated by ebay alone and these are entirely beyond my control. I am happy to combine postage on multiple book orders whenever I am able. If you wish to buy several books in one order then complete the purchase on ebay and wait for me to send you an invoice for the total payable, which will incorporate any combined postage discounts that I can reasonably offer, once I have calculated the weight and size requirements for your parcel. If you require any further information or if you require any further specific photos of this set then please contact me via ebay.