In the beginning there were the Stones...
... and they were good. The palantir were crystal globes wrought by the Noldor in Eldamar. They showed scenes far away in the time and space, especially things near to another palantir; two Stones thus could be used for communication. A person of strong will could learn to control the palantir and with it see where and whenever he wished.
At the fall of Numenor they were brought to and placed through Middle Earth by Elendil as thus:
Dome of Stars in Osgiliath - was known as the King's Stone and was the only one that could see all others at one time. It was thought to be lost when the city was burnt during the Kin-strife (TA 1432-48).
Minas Ithil - when the city fell to the Nazgul in TA 2002 the stone fell into their possession and then into the control of Sauron. This was when the other Stones became dangerous to use, especially the Stone of Minas Anor (Tirith) as it was most closely aligned with the Ithil-stone. Thought to be lost at the fall of Sauron and destruction of Barad-dur, the Dark Tower, at the end of WR.
Minas Anor - not used by the kings or stewards of Minas Anor after the fall of Minas Ithil until the time of the WR, when Denethor II, grown grim after the death of his wife, felt that he needed the knowledge that the palantir could give him in order to counter Sauron. Sauron, however, so manipulated Denethor's visions and assaulted his mind that the Steward went mad. Such was his madness that he tried to kill his remaining son, Faramir, and killed himself, the stone clutched in his hands as he perished in a blaze in the House of the Stewards during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. It's believed that Sauron brought this madness on by manipulating the vision of the Corsair fleet sailing up Anduin, convincing Denethor all was lost.
Orthanc in Isengard - lay unused in the Tower until sought out by Saruman in his quest for the One Ring. The wizard became ensnared by Sauron through his use of the Stone and convinced he was working with the Darkness to take over.
Annuminas -
Tower of Amon Sul - chief stone of the Northern Kingdom. Taken to Fornost by Arthedain after Angmar destroyed Amon Sul in TA 1409 and kept there with the the stone from Annuminas until the fall of Arthedain, when they were lost in the shipwreck that killed Arvedui.
Elostirion in the Tower Hills - only looked to the Undying Lands therefore was taken back into the care of the Eldar, then put aboard the ship of the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings in TA 3021 (that carried Frodo and Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel across the seas)
TBC
Note: This is all taken directly from Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth, or slightly reworded. All credit to Robert Foster.
At the fall of Numenor they were brought to and placed through Middle Earth by Elendil as thus:
Dome of Stars in Osgiliath - was known as the King's Stone and was the only one that could see all others at one time. It was thought to be lost when the city was burnt during the Kin-strife (TA 1432-48).
Minas Ithil - when the city fell to the Nazgul in TA 2002 the stone fell into their possession and then into the control of Sauron. This was when the other Stones became dangerous to use, especially the Stone of Minas Anor (Tirith) as it was most closely aligned with the Ithil-stone. Thought to be lost at the fall of Sauron and destruction of Barad-dur, the Dark Tower, at the end of WR.
Minas Anor - not used by the kings or stewards of Minas Anor after the fall of Minas Ithil until the time of the WR, when Denethor II, grown grim after the death of his wife, felt that he needed the knowledge that the palantir could give him in order to counter Sauron. Sauron, however, so manipulated Denethor's visions and assaulted his mind that the Steward went mad. Such was his madness that he tried to kill his remaining son, Faramir, and killed himself, the stone clutched in his hands as he perished in a blaze in the House of the Stewards during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. It's believed that Sauron brought this madness on by manipulating the vision of the Corsair fleet sailing up Anduin, convincing Denethor all was lost.
Orthanc in Isengard - lay unused in the Tower until sought out by Saruman in his quest for the One Ring. The wizard became ensnared by Sauron through his use of the Stone and convinced he was working with the Darkness to take over.
Annuminas -
Tower of Amon Sul - chief stone of the Northern Kingdom. Taken to Fornost by Arthedain after Angmar destroyed Amon Sul in TA 1409 and kept there with the the stone from Annuminas until the fall of Arthedain, when they were lost in the shipwreck that killed Arvedui.
Elostirion in the Tower Hills - only looked to the Undying Lands therefore was taken back into the care of the Eldar, then put aboard the ship of the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings in TA 3021 (that carried Frodo and Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel across the seas)
TBC
Note: This is all taken directly from Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth, or slightly reworded. All credit to Robert Foster.