He may not have been the first but, like a lot of things in Fantasy, Tolkien set the precedent, with maps featuring prominently in his publications (see Fold Out Maps below).
However this is a vast area for the collector, just search Esty for Middle Earth Maps, there are so many indepentatly printed items, not just on paper but on all sorts of things (mugs, coasters, clothes etc, see Others below for a few examples), the majority of which are unofficial.
There are some 'real' museum one off Tolkien maps, particularly those produced by the Tolkien family themselves, which i am not going to detail (I'll leave that to the real scholar's), although here are a few interesting websites with more details:
This is an interesting article on the Tolkien Society blog
I am only going to look at a limited selection (hence the musings title) of commercial items.
Internet Based
Just fit interest, as these are not items which can be collected, here are a few really interesting Internet interactive maps.
The Lord of the Rings Project
Arda Maps
Hobbit Movie
3 rings
Book/Fold Out
These are part of the Tolkien books
A few examples listed
Fellowship/Two Towers (original, revised)
Return of King
Silmarillion
Hobbit
Thror's Map
Wilderland
Books
Atlas of Middle-Earth
Easton Press
Journeys of Frodo
German versions
French versions
Japanese
Brian Sibley and John Howe
Map Books
Foldout Maps
The Maps of Tolkien's Middle Earth
Middle Earth Maps (Lord of the Rings Roleplaying)
Cities and Strongholds
Cubicle7 Maps (The One Ring Roleplaying)
MERP
Lord of the Rings Online Video Game
Middle Earth Cloth
Shadow of Angmar
Moria Cloth
comes in the Collectors Edition Set
Mines of Moria
comes in the Mines of Moria Special Edition Set
Atlas of Fantasy
Features maps of Tolkiens worlds
Calendars
Dataworks 2017 mini
Posters
This is only a small sample of the Map Posters available, mainly the classic ones.
Remington
Lord of the Rings "A Map of Middle Earth" Poster (Ballantine, c. 1965). Released in conjunction with the 1965 Ballantine paperback book edition, with artwork by Barbara Remington (signing as "BRem"), image area is approximately 23.5" x 37". Excellent condition.
Blackburn
1966
30.5”x40.5”
Published by Bruin Inc New York
Artwork by M. Blackburn
Baynes
By Pauline Baynes, was published in 1970 by George Allen & Unwin in the UK and Ballantine Books in the USA.
Unwin Double
Thorns Map and Wilderland
Unwin
Beleriand Map
1978
Danbury Mint Middle-Earth
Framed
Limited 1000
Warner Brothers
Lord of the Rings movies
Rohan and Gondor
Lenticular
Two Towers
WETA
Middle Earth
The Shire
Location map (version 1 and version 2)
The Noble Collection
With plaque and Key
Middle Earth CCG
Official Large Size Region Movement Map. Can be used in place of region cards to speed up game play. Includes which types of cards are playable at each site. Measures 23.5" x 17"
Official Medium Size Region Movement Map. Can be used in place of region cards to speed up game play. Measures 17" x 11.5"
Games Workshop
Lord of the Rings Campaign Map Double-sided A1 Poster by Games Workshop
Eaglemoss
Eaglemoss Lord of the Rings Collector's Models series. Special edition. Map of Middle Earth.
ODEON Cinema promo
Lego
Comic-Con Promo
Bookmarks
Fold out map
Postcards
Puzzles
Reverse side of Undergrounds The Hobbit
Underground
ICE Mddle Earth series
Go Hobbit movie series
Puz 4D
Bassets Candy Cards
GB Royal Mail Stamp
Part of the 50th anniversary set
Record Cover
Card Holder
Tea Towels
There And Back Again
Others
The general Middle Earth map is used on a wide veriety of current products, most of which are unofficial. Here is a sample:
