Apologies if the letter wasn’t meant to be shown. I believed that if it was published in Mary’s book, it would have been allowed? But I see you’ve removed it. Fair enough. But in the picture I show of the book, it’s actually page 324. There are also facsimile copies shown on the last few pages too.

So when the HarperCollins description mentions "dozens of pencil drawings appearing for the very first time", it seems to be referring to the decorated chapter headings and the decorated borders around the plates? If so, these look to be the same as the ones in the Folio edition, and therefore not 'appearing for the very first time'... I'm confused.

I genuinely prefer the design of this to the Folio Society 2022. In terms of quality, I've been burned by more than 50% of deluxe editions being (significantly) defective out of the last 8 I have purchased, so I'm just going to wait and see what turns up and not be swayed by marketing. I have ordered this though with relatively low expectations regarding the image reproduction (hopefully any new images that aren't in F22 will turn up in an alternative format at some point).

Tuor wrote:

So when the HarperCollins description mentions "dozens of pencil drawings appearing for the very first time", it seems to be referring to the decorated chapter headings and the decorated borders around the plates? If so, these look to be the same as the ones in the Folio edition, and therefore not 'appearing for the very first time'... I'm confused.

Yes, I thought they mean’t pencil drawings like the ones we see in «The Fall of Númenor» and other recent publications following «The Childeren of Húrin».

So how many new paintings are there exactly? At least three next to the ones from the Folio society. For we do get all of those here? like Eowyn vs the Witch-King?

Micelangelooo wrote:

Tuor wrote:

So when the HarperCollins description mentions "dozens of pencil drawings appearing for the very first time", it seems to be referring to the decorated chapter headings and the decorated borders around the plates? If so, these look to be the same as the ones in the Folio edition, and therefore not 'appearing for the very first time'... I'm confused.

Yes, I thought they mean’t pencil drawings like the ones we see in «The Fall of Númenor» and other recent publications following «The Childeren of Húrin».

So how many new paintings are there exactly? At least three next to the ones from the Folio society. For we do get all of those here? like Eowyn vs the Witch-King?

They are actually different than the chapter openers on the Folio. I just looked at one on the livestream ("Shadow of the Past") and that is a decorative surround that fully encloses the chapter name. On the Folio it is more like a lower case "n" shape that does not have a bottom. AL seems to have extended them to include a bottom section. I'd guess there are a few extension sections that have been added. Even on the Folio there is a lot of digitally repeated material in the various decorative borders. Technically these are new, but it looks like the truth is more "kinda".

For those who did not watch this part, near the end of the Livestream, the TCG team mentioned that they would be comparing the illustrations in this edition vs the Folio and would provide a breakdown of what “new” illustrations are in this edition vs what has already been previously published. Understandably that will take time to compare both versions and then summarize the differences.

Also if you’re quick enough, you can pause and zoom on the list of plates page when you see Part 1 opened: I’m not sure how clear that will be, but it’s something.

Tuor son of Huor wrote:

For those who did not watch this part, near the end of the Livestream, the TCG team mentioned that they would be comparing the illustrations in this edition vs the Folio and would provide a breakdown of what “new” illustrations are in this edition vs what has already been previously published. Understandably that will take time to compare both versions and then summarize the differences.

Right you are, this will come in due course.

I hope to have information on the plates by the end of this week, but for all the illustrations, need to get the books first, so as Mr. Underhill said that will be "in due course".

Thanks, all, for your answers about the illustrations. I was also hoping for pencil sketches like in 'The Children of Hurin', etc, but this seems not to be the case. Nevertheless, this looks like a superb edition!