[piosenniel]

I just purchased a book titled 'JRR Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator'. It shows the original drawings that Tolkien made for the cover of The Two Towers. His first sketch was of the One Ring in the center, with Barad-dur on the left and Minas Tirith on the right. Later, he developed the idea of the One Ring in the middle with Minas Morgul on the left and Orthanc on the right. The final version was of the One Ring in red in the center with a nazgul flying above it. On the left was the Tower of Minas Morgul in white with a jagged edged crescent moon above it and an eclipsing moon below it. At its base nine small rings. On the Right is the Tower of Orthanc with a five pointed star above it, a wizard's pentacle ; and below it is the white hand edged in red. Between the two is Mt. Doom.