New, Used, Rare, and Collectible Book Links
  • Free ISBN database.  This doesn't always have what you're looking for on file, but most often it does.  Comes in handy when there's no photo or a short description, and provides auto-search links to the big marketplaces.

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  • WorldCatLibraries.org locates the nearest lending library to claim to have a copy of what you're looking for.  Occasionally, the internet is a brilliant and worthy tool.

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  • The U.S. Library of Congress online catalog.

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  • wikipedia is a wealth of well organized (if not always complete or accurate) information, and this page is worth a visit.  Of course, with so many Tolkien "experts" out there, well, bring a grain of salt.

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  • linked image - bookshop logo Not only does bookshop.org support your local independent brick-and-mortar book store, a search for Tolkien on this site brings up EVERY new book available on the market, whether your local shop has it in stock or not.  Go. Shop. Love.

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  • linked image - bookfinder logo GOTTA love the bookfinder.  It doesn't always find them all, and it often finds multiple listings for the same book, but it gives a great overview of the market for any given item, and saved me countless hours of research.  Similar services:
  • BookFinder4u   |   FetchBook.info   |   AllBookStores

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  • linked image - bookcloseouts logo is a volume discounter - a place to find books new and cheap.  Some may sell remainders, many have dealer marketplaces.  I don't frequent these places and so can't recommend any, but here they are:
  • SuperBookDeals   |   BiggerBooks   |   Overstock   |   booksamillion

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  • linked image - ABE logo is a place where a very great many dealers list their new, used, rare, OOP and text books.  ISBN lookup.  Long on physical descriptions, short on photos.  Now owned by Amazon.  Some multiple dealer marketplaces host online auctions or have rare book rooms.  Similar marketplaces:
  • UsedBookCentral.com   |   Biblio.com   |   Alibris.com   |   Powells.com

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  • linked image - amazon logo New, used, and collectible books.  Stock images almost exclusively.  Their search engine is lousy, but ISBN search works.  Anybody can sell there, so sometimes you can find garage sale prices, but the product information is also often incorrect.  Marketplace sellers are rated by customers and Amazon, so they tend to be fairly reliable.
  • linked image - BN logo Made the list for keeping old stock photos up, returning search results with any input, and hosting a used and OOP book market.  Last I checked, the market was a navigation nightmare, but that was years ago...
  • linked image - eBay logo auctions.  Not for the weak willed, impatient, or uninformed.

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  • linked image - Harper Collins Publishers logo Tolkien is now searchable at (and purchasable through) the Harper Collins website.

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  • linked image - tolkienbooks.net (UK) logo   is a complete, easily navigated, pictoral bibliography of UK produced versions.  Huge, excellent resource;  no USA or Canada editons.

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  • Tolkienbooks.us  It's about time somebody did this, because it wasn't gonna be me... the USA equivalent of tolkienbooks.net, and this site has a Canadian editions section as well.  The new kid and I do not always agree on details, so when you see something there that contradicts the US Guide - I'm right.  LOL- ❤U brother.

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  • Tolkien Calendars  The Compleat Gyde - excellent list with photos and ISBNs.  Global in scope, though it includes no desk diaries or Peter Jackson film related editions.

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  • The other TolkienGuide  is most useful as a hub for the collecting community:  news, reports on rare finds, a forum, podcasts, that sort of thing.  At last check, the bibliography was poorly structured, and many links dead ended, but that was a while back, and it's the only place I know of which is attempting to archive fanzines and journals online.  Go visit and say hello - the guys are super nice.
  • TolkienLibrary.com  a store, for collectors with very deep pockets.  There's a large sprawling mass of partially complete information pages of many kinds seeded all over it, aparently for the primary purpose of selling books or the site itself.  The most useful feature is the blog - Tolkien related news appears here early and often.
  • Hobbit.ca  This bookseller and collector sometimes has rare items for sale, but the showcase of his very impressive collection of The Hobbit editions is a must see.
  • Tolkien Boardgames    Slightly off-topic, but not far... some of this material is produced in book format, and some is great for the maps, the art or sheer novelty.  These two game collectors have listed, both alphabetically and chronologically, every Tolkien themed game they've ever found, photos included.  Some detail pages have remained incomplete, and there hasn't been anything new to add lately, but the site is still maintained.
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