Hold on... that books have different heights!?

They are not level and the smaller ones are farther away. Gives me an opportunity to show one of my favourite clips from Father Ted, a great clip

And I have nothing against Ted Nasmith, but I find his art a bit too literal. Alan Lee’s work leaves room for imagination (for me anyway).

Also, Alan Lee (for me) evokes mood and environment in a way Ted Nasmith just does not.

But that’s art - in the eye of the beholder and all that.

Haha! Oh thank goodness! I was almost writhing on the inside.

Many thanks for posting those photos!! Three things I am curious about :

a) does The Fellowship of the Ring have the frontispiece as a 3-page, fold-out sheet, the way the 60th anniversary illustrated Lord of the Rings did?

b) is it printed entirely on the same paper type, or does it 'mix' (reg for text and pencil sketches, photo paper for the colour plates) like how the Great Tales do?

c) does it feature any fold-out maps, ala The Children of Hurin or The Fall of Gondolin?

First of all, hiya all. New guy here. Nice to finally meet and greet you all.

Now, does anyone know if the sketches in these new books (H+LoTR) can be found in The Hobbit Sketchbook and The LoTR Sketchbook?
I was thinking about buying all 4 of them but if what drawings are in them can be found in Sketchbooks then... maybe not?
Any thoughts?

The sketches have MORE, as it offers a few takes on the same images, as well as art for the films. Some of Alan's full-colour illustrations from the two books he illustrated are included in the sketchbooks.

I may have pressed post without adding more:

the sketchbooks DO NOT feature all of the artwork found, as it, is in the books he illustrated. There would be SOME, but not much, duplication if you got both the sketchbooks, and the illustrated set.

Thank you very much for your answer. I've had an internal debate on the matter ever since the Illustrated box-set was announced. I really needed a voice of reason (and info).
At this moment in time I might skip them altogether. I don't think they're worth the money, shelf-space or all the wait and hassle that'll ensue with delivery. After all, with the exception of a few illustrations, there's nothing new in them.

Cheers!

A picture of the slip-cased paperback edition.