100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

The Ring Legends of Tolkien

An Illustrated Exploration of Rings in Tolkien's World, and the Sources that Inspired his Work from Myth, Literature and History
Series: Tolkien
Brief Description
Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature. This deluxe edition of David Day's The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt... Read More
Format: Hardback
$5800
Elsewhere:
$6500
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

A stunning gift edition of the indispensable and comprehensive handbook to the rich history of the symbol of the ring, its origin in ancient storytelling tradition, and its influence on Tolkien's work from acclaimed Tolkien scholar David Day.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature. This deluxe edition of David Day's The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges, and ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches, and paintings from a host of brilliant artists. Tracing centuries of ancient folklore, The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a deep and highly informed investigation into the inspiration behind Tolkien's epic fantasy world. It explores the origins of the One Ring, as well as the extraordinary myths and legends that inspired Tolkien's works. The perfect gift for fans of Tolkien's world. Also available in the series: A Dictionary of Tolkien and An Atlas of Tolkien. This book has not been prepared, authorized, licensed, or endorsed by J. R. R. Tolkien's heirs or estate, nor by any of the publishers or distributors of the book The Lord of the Rings or any other work written by J. R. R. Tolkien, nor anyone involved in the creation, production, or distribution of the films based on the book.

Series: Tolkien

View all
  • The Ring Legends of Tolkien
    Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature. This deluxe edition of David Day's The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges, and ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new...
    Hardback
    $5800
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
    This deluxe edition of David Day's hugely popular A Dictionary of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges, and a ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork in full colour alongside the familiar illustrations, sketches, and paintings from a host of brilliant artists. Arranged in a handy A-Z...
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Battles of Tolkien
    Tolkien's works are punctuated by dramatic and explosive battles. Men versus Orcs, Elves versus Sauron, Goblins versus Dwarves - the history of Middle-earth has seen some of the greatest characters pitted against each other time and time again. From the iconic battle of Helm's Deep to the Destruction of Isengard, The Battles of Tolkien analyses each battle in depth, with...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Atlas of Tolkien
    This lavish, colour atlas is a complete guide to the weird and wonderful geography of Tolkien's world. Packed with full page maps and illustrations of events in the annals of Middle-earth, it is the perfect companion to the bestselling A DICTIONARY OF TOLKIEN. This book is unofficial and is not authorised by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
    Paperback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
    Arranged in a handy A-Z format, A Dictionary of Tolkien explores and explains the creatures, plants, events, and places that make up these strange and wonderful lands. It is essential reading for anyone who loves Tolkien's works and wants to learn more about them. This book is unofficial and is not authorised by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    J.R.R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT, and THE SILMARILLION are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's Middle-earth has seen war and rebellion, devastation and loss, in which the powers of darkness emerged. Here in his latest book, best-selling author and...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Atlas of Tolkien
    This deluxe edition of David Day's hugely popular The Atlas of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges and a ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork and charts alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches, and paintings from a host of brilliant artists. This colour atlas is a...
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Heroes of Tolkien
    Tolkien's Middle-earth has endured cataclysmic wars and critical battles, causing great men and women to arise and shape the course of its history. In his latest book, best-selling author and Tolkien expert David Day examines the complexities surrounding Tolkien's portrayal of good and evil, analysing the most celebrated heroes from the creation of the world of Arda until the end...
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Ring Legends of Tolkien
    The perfect Father's Day gift Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature. Tracing centuries of ancient folklore, The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a deep and highly informed investigation into the inspiration behind Tolkien's epic fantasy world. It explores the origins of the...
    Paperback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    Pre-order
    The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    "For nothing is evil in the beginning" - J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's Middle-earth has seen war and rebellion, devastation and loss, in which the powers of...
    Hardback
    $6000
    Pre-order
    Out 8 Sep 2026

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788406383

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Cassell

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 183.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 860g

Pages: 256

About the Author

David Day was born and brought up in Canada. He has published many books in the fields of poetry, ecology, natural history, fantasy and mythology and a number of award-winning children's books. His writing has also appeared in many magazines and anthologies.

His enduring fascination with complex mythologies led him to J.R.R. Tolkien and Day is best known for his best-selling books on the life and works of that author.

It all began with the publication of A Tolkien Bestiary (1979), a lavishly illustrated book that for the first time gave readers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings some indication of the immense scope of Tolkien's mythology

and cosmology.

Day's subsequent books include Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (1992), The World of Tolkien: The Mythological Sources of Lord of the Rings (2002).

An Atlas of Tolkien and its companion volume, A Dictionary of Tolkien, were the first two books of a seven-volume reference library and more recently, The Illustrated World of Tolkien (2019) and The Illustrated World of Tolkien:

The Second Age (2023), celebrate more than 40 years of Day's works and delve into the lesser-known parts of Tolkien's legendarium.

Also by David Day

View all
  • Hawke PM
    The companion volume to Young Hawke: The Making of a Larrikin from the award-winning historian and author of Curtin and Chifley. Hawke PM details the life of Bob Hawke, who was one of the most influential Australians of the twentieth century. Initially, he was Australia's most powerful trade union leader in the 1970s, before becoming the longest-serving Labor prime minister...
    Hardback
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Young Hawke
    From Rhodes Scholar to union leader to political powerhouse: how Bobbie became Bob, the iconic PM. The new biography from award-winning historian David Day sheds fresh light on the formative years of Australia's most charismatic leader, who became a political legend. David Day's biography of the young Bob Hawke takes readers on a journey, from his humble beginnings as the...
    Hardback
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Illustrated World of Tolkien
    Tolkien's works have inspired artists for generations and have given rise to myriad interpretations of the rich and magical worlds he created. The Illustrated World of Tolkien gathers together artworks and essays from expert illustrators, painters, and etchers, along with fascinating and scholarly writing from renowned Tolkien expert David Day. It is an exquisite reference guide for any fan of...
    Hardback
    $7500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
    This deluxe edition of David Day's hugely popular A Dictionary of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges, and a ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork in full colour alongside the familiar illustrations, sketches, and paintings from a host of brilliant artists. Arranged in a handy A-Z...
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Battles of Tolkien
    Tolkien's works are punctuated by dramatic and explosive battles. Men versus Orcs, Elves versus Sauron, Goblins versus Dwarves - the history of Middle-earth has seen some of the greatest characters pitted against each other time and time again. From the iconic battle of Helm's Deep to the Destruction of Isengard, The Battles of Tolkien analyses each battle in depth, with...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Atlas of Tolkien
    This lavish, colour atlas is a complete guide to the weird and wonderful geography of Tolkien's world. Packed with full page maps and illustrations of events in the annals of Middle-earth, it is the perfect companion to the bestselling A DICTIONARY OF TOLKIEN. This book is unofficial and is not authorised by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
    Paperback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Dictionary of Tolkien
    Arranged in a handy A-Z format, A Dictionary of Tolkien explores and explains the creatures, plants, events, and places that make up these strange and wonderful lands. It is essential reading for anyone who loves Tolkien's works and wants to learn more about them. This book is unofficial and is not authorised by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Dark Powers of Tolkien
    J.R.R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT, and THE SILMARILLION are some of the greatest tales of good versus evil ever told. From the creation of Arda to the War of the Ring, Tolkien's Middle-earth has seen war and rebellion, devastation and loss, in which the powers of darkness emerged. Here in his latest book, best-selling author and...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Atlas of Tolkien
    This deluxe edition of David Day's hugely popular The Atlas of Tolkien is a handsome hardback with an embossed and foiled cover, gilt edges and a ribbon marker. Published in a larger format, this edition features some all-new artwork and charts alongside the familiar, exquisite maps, sketches, and paintings from a host of brilliant artists. This colour atlas is a...
    Hardback
    $6000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual
    A completely revised, redesigned and updated edition of the definitive woodworker's bible. Authoritative, superbly crafted and easy to use, Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual is the one book every woodworker needs. This new revised edition has been extensively rewritten and contains new photographs and illustrations to give the book a contemporary feel, and includes all the new products and techniques developed...
    Hardback
    $7299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Ring Legends of Tolkien
    The perfect Father's Day gift Tolkien's One Ring, at the centre of one of the greatest fantasy tales ever told, is an undeniably iconic and powerful symbol in literature. Tracing centuries of ancient folklore, The Ring Legends of Tolkien is a deep and highly informed investigation into the inspiration behind Tolkien's epic fantasy world. It explores the origins of the...
    Paperback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Heroes of Tolkien
    Tolkien's Middle-earth has endured cataclysmic wars and critical battles, causing great men and women to arise and shape the course of its history. In his latest book, best-selling author and Tolkien expert David Day examines the complexities surrounding Tolkien's portrayal of good and evil, analysing the most celebrated heroes from the creation of the world of Arda until the end...
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all
  • The Strength of the Few
    The highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Manyβ€”one of 2023's most lauded and bestselling fantasy novels. The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am. But with all that has happenedβ€”with what I fear is comingβ€”I am not sure it matters anymore. I am no longer one. I won the...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Crossroads of Ravens
    THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS... Every legend has an origin - and Geralt of Rivia's begins here. In this brand-new chapter of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series, follow Geralt in his earliest days as a Witcher, as he faces monsters and humans alike. Discover the untold stories and encounters that shaped the iconic character known today. Crossroads of Ravens brings readers into...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Will of the Many
    Phenomenal! One of the best high fantasy novels I've read in yearsβ€”think Red Rising meets The Name of the Wind. I couldn't put it down. - LYNETTE NONI This new edition of book one in the Hierarchy series features never-before-seen bonus materials, including a full-colour map by the author, a note to the reader, and new cover art. AUDI. VICE....
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Wind and Truth
    The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the Number One New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive. Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson sees Dalinar Kholin challenge the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare, and the sudden ascension of the...
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Ministry of Time
    One of the 18 best novels of the year for the Sunday Times A book of the year for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, Spectator, Red, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Slate, Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, Globe and Mail, Den of Geek, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, NetGalley and Smithsonian Magazine 'A sparkling delight' Observer 'Make room on your bookshelves...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • I Who Have Never Known Men
    A haunting, heartbreaking tale of female friendship and intimacy that evokes the chilling atmospheres of The Handmaid's Tale and the desolate landscapes of The Road, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This gripping narrative takes us deep underground, where thirty-nine women are held in isolation...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Colour Illustrated Hobbit
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a timeless classic that has enchanted readers for generations. This beloved tale follows Bilbo Baggins, a peace-loving hobbit from the quaint and picturesque Shire, who finds himself thrust into an epic journey far from the comforts of his cosy home. Charming and lively illustrations by Jemima Catlin breathe new life...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Blood Over Bright Haven
    A riveting dark academia fantasy about the limits of truth and power, from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. For twenty years, Sciona...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Great Dune Trilogy
    Frank Herbert's The Great Dune Trilogy plunges readers into an evocative and grandiose saga set on the desert planet of Arrakis. This richly detailed landscape becomes the focal point for a complex tapestry of political intrigue, military conflict, and galaxy-wide repercussions. Arrakis, also known as Dune, is the sole source of the spice melange, a valuable and highly sought-after substance...
    Paperback
    $3900
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.