Tolkien's maps

Detail from Tolkien's revised map of Wilderland for the first edition of The Hobbit, 1937[1]
Detail from J. R. R. Tolkien's preliminary map of Wilderland. The publishers asked for the map to be redrawn to suit line-block printing better, and with improved lettering.

J. R. R. Tolkien's maps, depicting his fictional Middle-earth and other places in his legendarium, helped him with plot development, guided the reader through his often complex stories, and contributed to the impression of depth and worldbuilding in his writings.

Tolkien stated that he began with maps and developed his plots from them, but that he also wanted his maps to be picturesque. Later fantasy writers also often include maps in their novels.

The publisher Allen & Unwin commissioned Pauline Baynes to paint a map of Middle-earth, based on Tolkien's draft maps and his annotations; it became iconic. A later redrafting of the maps by the publisher HarperCollins however made the maps look blandly professional, losing the hand-drawn feeling of Tolkien's maps.

  1. ^ Campbell 2013, p. 408.