An illustrated Silmarillion - very 'Elvish'... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 07-10-2009, 12:05 AM

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...lmarillion.php

I want one.... Maybe we should hassle Harper Collins?

narfforc · 07-10-2009, 02:40 AM

That is fantastic Davem, I need one of those for my collection, it is quite beautiful.

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-10-2009, 06:29 AM

Thanks for sharing this, davem! Maybe the German Tolkien Society will have opportunity to contact him for an exhibition of his beautiful work!

narfforc · 07-10-2009, 08:14 AM

That would be a fantastic idea Esty.

Eönwë · 07-10-2009, 10:10 AM

That is amazing, davem!

We definitely should hassle Harper Collins!

LadyBrooke · 07-10-2009, 10:42 AM

I'd love to have one of these. Harper Collins has to print it.

The only problem will be that I am a broke High School student and therefore would not be able to afford it.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 07-10-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyBrooke

I'd love to have one of these. Harper Collins has to print it.

The only problem will be that I am a broke High School student and therefore would not be able to afford it.

I am in the same boat, it doesn't help that I am trying to save up for a trip to Britain next summer.

Hakon · 07-10-2009, 11:48 PM

I am with Davem and Eonwe on hassling Harper Collins. As long as the book costs under 300 dollars I should be able to get a copy if it is published.

davem · 07-11-2009, 01:13 AM

Well, this is the link to the contact page on the Tolkien Estate site http://www.tolkienestate.com/contact/ which has options to contact both the Estate & Harper Collins. Speaking personally, much as I love Alan Lee's work it would be nice to see someone else's art in a Tolkien book. And I have to say that the style of this work seems to be more in keeping with the the work in question.

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-11-2009, 04:37 AM

I agree, davem, and the interview shows that he made a real effort to keep his artwork in conjunction with Tolkien's own art and calligraphy. The props for the movies are the only other venue I can think of that have gone in this direction.

Bêthberry · 07-11-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Thanks for sharing this, davem! Maybe the German Tolkien Society will have opportunity to contact him for an exhibition of his beautiful work!

An excellent way to spread the word, Esty, marked by enthusiasm and civility.

The interview with Benjamin Harff is also something special. Benjamin Harff is obviously an artist with a clear sense of his own direction and responsibilities to art. There's authenticity there.

davem · 07-11-2009, 10:30 AM

Another amazing edition (of LotR & TH) here - handwritten believe it or not! http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/HariIstvan/000001.htm & this one http://www.indyprops.com/pp-rb-work.htm which is a reproduction of the movie version of the Red Book - scroll to the bottom of the page for links to various pages.

Hakon · 07-11-2009, 12:17 PM

The first link looks like a good copy to buy, the second one is terrible. He rewrote it in his own way.

Pitchwife · 07-11-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hakon

the second one is terrible. He rewrote it in his own way.

Yep. Those tengwar diacritics on latin letters in the movie Red Book are so stupid!

davem · 07-13-2009, 11:39 AM

I emailed Harper Collins & got this reply from David Brawn:

Quote:

Dear David

Thank you for bringing the illuminated Silmarillion to our attention. It
does indeed appear beautiful, though I get the impression it was
prepared as a specific art project, not for publication. We are aware
that enthusiasts do this from time to time, though we are seldom
approached to publish such endeavours. On such occasions, the
enterprises invariably turn out to be entirely impractical, though that
doesn't stop us giving such projects proper consideration. They should
be sent in the first instance to our Tolkien Editorial Director, Chris
Smith.

Best wishes

David Brawn
Publishing Director - Estates
HarperFiction

[/QUOTE]

Now, as the artist stated in the article that he had tried to contact Harper Collins in hopes of getting the work published I've forwarded the request to Chris Smith, but apparently he's on holiday at the moment. Perhaps though, if enough interest is expressed we may be able to get something done - anyone wanting to get their hands on a copy may want to contact the publishers via the link I posted earlier.

Bêthberry · 08-29-2011, 07:23 AM

Benjamin Harff, a German art student, has produced, for his final examination, an edition of The Silm with beautiful illustrations, some of which are reproduced here for the interview with him at the Tolkien Library. Well worth looking at!

Benjamin Harff Interview on the Edel Silmarillion

The Might · 08-29-2011, 07:39 AM

OMG, I need that book!

Thank you for sharing the link, Bethberry, I enjoyed reading the interview as it really shows that he is a true Tolkien fan. Too bad the Estate appears to be as useful as ever. Hopefully he'll get hired for other Tolkien-related work and hopefully his decorated Silmarillion will be available to purchase, I would immediately get one.

Galadriel55 · 08-29-2011, 07:42 AM

Oh. My. God.

This is insanely amazing!

I want that book.

I'm really impressed by the amount of time and work Harff put into that project. And he says he did less than half of what he planned!

Edit: xed with Miggy. Let's spam the Estate into making more copies! *puts on her evil schemer face*

Legate of Amon Lanc · 08-29-2011, 08:33 AM

Indeed! I WANT that!!!!!!!!!

And really, the fellow is just amazing - certainly an incredible amount of work, but what a work! I think if everyone was making things of such quality for their exams, well, then world would be soon filled with beautiful and certainly valuable things...

Estelyn Telcontar · 08-29-2011, 12:20 PM

This work certainly deserves the renewed interest it is currently getting! Interestingly, it was introduced here two years ago, on this thread: A very 'Elvish' Silmarillion. To avoid redundance and confusion, I'll merge the two threads - please do continue to post and read on the combined discussion - thanks!

07-10-2009, 12:05 AM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	An illustrated Silmarillion - very 'Elvish'... http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...lmarillion.php I want one.... Maybe we should hassle Harper Collins? __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

07-10-2009, 02:40 AM	#2
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	That is fantastic Davem, I need one of those for my collection, it is quite beautiful. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

07-10-2009, 06:29 AM	#3
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Thanks for sharing this, davem! Maybe the German Tolkien Society will have opportunity to contact him for an exhibition of his beautiful work! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

07-10-2009, 08:14 AM	#4
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	That would be a fantastic idea Esty. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

07-10-2009, 10:10 AM	#5
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,928	That is amazing, davem! We definitely should hassle Harper Collins! __________________ Welcome to the Barrow Do-owns Forum / Such a lovely place

07-10-2009, 10:42 AM	#6
LadyBrooke Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The modern day version of Edoras: horses, wind, rolling plains =) Posts: 507	I'd love to have one of these. Harper Collins has to print it. The only problem will be that I am a broke High School student and therefore would not be able to afford it. __________________ Busy, Busy, Busy...hoping for more free time soon.

07-10-2009, 11:48 PM	#8
Hakon Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 736	I am with Davem and Eonwe on hassling Harper Collins. As long as the book costs under 300 dollars I should be able to get a copy if it is published. __________________ Medicine for the soul. ~Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes

07-11-2009, 01:13 AM	#9
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Well, this is the link to the contact page on the Tolkien Estate site http://www.tolkienestate.com/contact/ which has options to contact both the Estate & Harper Collins. Speaking personally, much as I love Alan Lee's work it would be nice to see someone else's art in a Tolkien book. And I have to say that the style of this work seems to be more in keeping with the the work in question. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

07-11-2009, 04:37 AM	#10
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I agree, davem, and the interview shows that he made a real effort to keep his artwork in conjunction with Tolkien's own art and calligraphy. The props for the movies are the only other venue I can think of that have gone in this direction. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

07-11-2009, 10:30 AM	#12
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Another amazing edition (of LotR & TH) here - handwritten believe it or not! http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/HariIstvan/000001.htm & this one http://www.indyprops.com/pp-rb-work.htm which is a reproduction of the movie version of the Red Book - scroll to the bottom of the page for links to various pages. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

07-11-2009, 12:17 PM	#13
Hakon Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 736	The first link looks like a good copy to buy, the second one is terrible. He rewrote it in his own way. __________________ Medicine for the soul. ~Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes Last edited by Hakon; 07-13-2009 at 05:50 PM.

08-29-2011, 07:23 AM	#16
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	New illustrated Silmarillion Benjamin Harff, a German art student, has produced, for his final examination, an edition of The Silm with beautiful illustrations, some of which are reproduced here for the interview with him at the Tolkien Library. Well worth looking at! Benjamin Harff Interview on the Edel Silmarillion __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

08-29-2011, 07:39 AM	#17
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	OMG, I need that book! Thank you for sharing the link, Bethberry, I enjoyed reading the interview as it really shows that he is a true Tolkien fan. Too bad the Estate appears to be as useful as ever. Hopefully he'll get hired for other Tolkien-related work and hopefully his decorated Silmarillion will be available to purchase, I would immediately get one. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

08-29-2011, 07:42 AM	#18
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,416	Oh. My. God. This is insanely amazing! I want that book. I'm really impressed by the amount of time and work Harff put into that project. And he says he did less than half of what he planned! Edit: xed with Miggy. Let's spam the Estate into making more copies! puts on her evil schemer face __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera Last edited by Galadriel55; 08-29-2011 at 07:46 AM.

08-29-2011, 08:33 AM	#19
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Indeed! I WANT that!!!!!!!!! And really, the fellow is just amazing - certainly an incredible amount of work, but what a work! I think if everyone was making things of such quality for their exams, well, then world would be soon filled with beautiful and certainly valuable things... __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

08-29-2011, 12:20 PM	#20
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	This work certainly deserves the renewed interest it is currently getting! Interestingly, it was introduced here two years ago, on this thread: A very 'Elvish' Silmarillion. To avoid redundance and confusion, I'll merge the two threads - please do continue to post and read on the combined discussion - thanks! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'