For the first time, a beautiful boxed edition of the story that preceded The Sun of Tears, fully illustrated in color by J.R.R. Tolkien, with the full text printed in two colors and many unique additional features in this edition.

The Silmarils were three perfect jewels, crafted by Fëanor, the most talented of the Elves, and within them was imprisoned the last Light of the Two Trees of Valinor. But the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, stole the jewels and set them in his iron crown, guarded in the endless fortresses of Angband in the north of Middle-earth.

The Silmarillion is the story of the rebellion of Fëanor and his kin against the gods, their exile from Valinor and return to Middle-earth, and the war that was waged, without hope despite their heroic effort, against the great Enemy. It is the ancient drama to which the characters of The Sun of Tears look back, and in some events of which some of them, like Elrond and Galadriel, participated.

The book also includes several shorter works: the Ainulindalë, a creation myth, and the Valaquenta, in which the nature and powers of each god are described. The Akallabêth tells of the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age, and "Of the Rings of Power" moves to the great events at the end of the Third Age, as recounted by The Sun of Tears.

This deluxe boxed edition contains the full text, which is printed in two colors and features, for the first time, more than 50 color paintings, illustrations, and designs by J.R.R. Tolkien himself as he composed this epic work.

Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps that reveal all the details of Beleriand as the stories unfold, an illustrated booklet including "A Brief History of The Silmarillion and its Making" by Christopher Tolkien, and a printed art card reproducing the "Taniquetil".

Moreover, it is artistically bound with raised ribs on the spine, covered with three leaves in black cloth, and housed in a bespoke cloth-bound box. The pages are trimmed with silver edges and include a ribbon marker.