For the first time ever, a special enhanced edition of the enchanting prelude toThe Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself.Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey there and back again. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon . . .Written for J.R.R. Tolkiens own children,The Hobbitwas published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five color plates.Tolkiens own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions ofThe Hobbitfor more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkiens creative process, and many additional sketches, colored drawings and maps although exhibited and published elsewhere have never appeared within the pages ofThe Hobbit.In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkiens enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure there and back again.