This issue was rejected by Allan, the owner of this blog, as being just a collectable, having nothing to do with the true objective of stamps. He said the main purpose of stamps were to show postage had been paid on mail travelling through the postal system. While I agree with him I also want to point out that NZ Post clearly stated that this was a product aimed at the collector market. We argued that this issue should have a place in this blog and in the end he agreed to allow it saying "You can do this post if you like. I want nothing to do with it." So here it is a joint post by Kim and myself (Asami).
(In the end Allan did help but don't tell him I told you. LOL!)
(In the end Allan did help but don't tell him I told you. LOL!)
Here is the opening paragraph and banner on the NZ Post page. (Allan please notice the use of the word "collectable." They are not trying to pass this off as a postage stamp. They are presenting an amazing stamp with a lovely book to go with it.)
"Whether you’re a fan of Hobbits, Orcs, Dwarves, Elves, Men or Wizards,
there’s something for everyone in our brand new Middle-earth collectable!"
One Stamp To Rule Them All!
In the depths of Mount NZ Post, designers were secretly at work crafting the master stamp,
the one stamp that would rule all other Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit stamps.
"One Stamp to rule them all,
One Stamp to find them,
One Stamp to bring them all and
on this blog page bind them."
$10.00 - The Ring against a iconic map of Middle-earth.
To really set this book apart, inside you’ll also find a stamp and miniature sheet, never seen before. This exclusive stamp features the ‘One Ring’ embossed in 22 carat gold foil. The ‘One Ring’ is at the heart of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so it’s fitting that this powerful symbol features on its own New Zealand stamp for the first time. It comes in it's own miniature sheet showing that famous map of Middle-earth.
The Leather Embossed Book.
New Zealand is famous around the world as the home of Middle-earth - thanks to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogies. The legacy of these iconic films lives on through New Zealand Post’s commemorative stamps - which are available together for the first time in a stunning publication. An exclusive new stamp is also contained inside!
For the first time, each miniature sheet produced by New Zealand Post for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogies (37 stamps and miniature sheets) is now available in the ultimate collectable: A Journey through Middle-earth. This beautifully crafted book has been inspired by the journal written by Hobbits Bilbo Baggins and his heir Frodo Baggins in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
It comes complete with an embossed leatherette cover, fastened with a button modelled from the waistcoat of Bilbo Baggins. Inside the pages, which have been printed on premium textured paper, you can re-live this great adventure with the film synopses, quotes from your favourite characters, conceptual illustrations and stunning photography. Each of the miniature sheets contained within are individually numbered, making them uniquely collectable. Each book also comes with a certificate of authenticity.
A very young Bilbo Baggins looking out of the round door of Bag End.
This scene, created by Peter Jackson for the movie, was inspired by a painting by John Howe. Of course when you go to the movie set Hobbiton you will find that there is nothing behind this door as all the inside shots of Bag End were filmed at a studio in Wellington. This picture was inspired by a memorable scene where he was watching the sunset. But if you go to Hobbiton you might notice that this door is facing the east so in reality for that special scene Bilbo was looking at a sunrise.
On the left is a young Bilbo Baggins. The stamp and miniature sheet were issued as part of the 2012 issue to mark the release of the first Hobbit movie An Unexpected Journey.
2012 The Hobbit I - An Unexpected Journey.
On the opposite page is part of the contract Bilbo signed before joining the quest to the Lonely Mountain.
2012 The Hobbit I - An Unexpected Journey.
On the opposite page is part of the contract Bilbo signed before joining the quest to the Lonely Mountain.
The Ring.
Really the entire story of both sets of movies was about this one ring, forged by the evil Sauron to rule the entire world of Middle-earth. It is surprising how after 37 special stamps and miniature sheets, finally there is one that features The Ring.
What makes it even more powerful is that this is a very simple, smooth, round ring. The famous writing that is inscribed upon it only appears when the ring is heated in a fire. It is fitting that such a powerful ring should have such a simple appearance.
Really the entire story of both sets of movies was about this one ring, forged by the evil Sauron to rule the entire world of Middle-earth. It is surprising how after 37 special stamps and miniature sheets, finally there is one that features The Ring.
What makes it even more powerful is that this is a very simple, smooth, round ring. The famous writing that is inscribed upon it only appears when the ring is heated in a fire. It is fitting that such a powerful ring should have such a simple appearance.
Legolas (Orlando Bloom) was among the Fellowship that set forth from Rivendell to destroy the ring. Later he and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), team up with Arogorn (Viggo Mortensen) for the rest of the Lord of the Rings movies. But Legolas was seen well before then in the Hobbit movies where he is involved in fighting and defending his homeland for his Father.
Orlando Bloom describes Legolas:- "As for Legolas, he has seen the world. He is incredibly experienced in many ways. Mind you, so he should be - after all, he is 2,931 years old."
Orlando Bloom describes Legolas:- "As for Legolas, he has seen the world. He is incredibly experienced in many ways. Mind you, so he should be - after all, he is 2,931 years old."
The stamp and miniature sheet were issued as part of the 2003 issue to mark the release of the third movie The Return of the King.
Both these miniature sheets come from the first Hobbit issue, featuring Gollum (Andy Serkis) a pitiable, wretched creature, enslaved by his desire for the One Ring. In the movies, Gollum was actually a CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) character voiced and performed by actor Andy Serkis.
Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) is one of the most powerful wizards of Middle earth. He appears in all six movies, helping where he can with various degrees of powers. He also appears on five of the 37 miniature sheets, more than any other character.
The Trollshaw Trio.
Three Trolls, Bert, Tom and William. I really like these three although I don't think I'd like to be invited to dinner. They were big, ugly and clumsy creatures set on eating the dwarves for supper. While this scene and the fight that follows could been serious but in the movie it became rather humous as well.
They also appeared in the 1st Lord of the Rings movie where Frodo and his friends camp beside these three giant Trolls, now turned to stone.
They also appeared in the 1st Lord of the Rings movie where Frodo and his friends camp beside these three giant Trolls, now turned to stone.
These two miniature sheets come from the first Lord of the Rings movie, Fellowship of the Ring. On the left is a detail of Rivendell showing Frodo just waking from the sickness caused by being stabbed by an evil blade. The stamp shows a Guardian Statue from Rivendell.
On the right is Strider. At first he appears to be some evil person sitting back in a dark corner watching the hobbits. Later it is revealed he is Aragorn, one of the last to have the blood of the great Kings of Condor.
2001 Lord of the Rings I.
On the right is Strider. At first he appears to be some evil person sitting back in a dark corner watching the hobbits. Later it is revealed he is Aragorn, one of the last to have the blood of the great Kings of Condor.
2001 Lord of the Rings I.
Frodo began on his journey and he started wearing the ring on a chain around his neck, like Gollum, it began to change him. The evil of the ring began to weigh heavy on him and by the end of the third movie it had almost destroyed him.
The Miniature Sheets.
Below are the 37 miniature sheets from the original issues. In the order they were issued and appeared in the movies, not when the scenes appeared in the original stories. We have also included the 38th miniature sheet, the One Ring and map of Middle-earth.
2001 Lord of the Rings I.
2001 Lord of the Rings I.
2001 - The six miniature sheets for The Fellowship of the Ring.
Top Row:- 40c - Gandalf and Saruman; 80c - The Lady Galadriel.
Middle Row:- 90c - Sam Gamgee and Frodo Baggins; $1.30 - The Guardian of Rivendell.
Bottom Row:- $1.50 - Strider; $2.00 - Boromir of Gondor.
2002 - The six miniature sheets for The Two Towers.
Top Row:- Aragorn and Eowyn; 80c - Orc Raider.
Middle Row:- 90c - Gandalf the White; $1.30 - The Easterlings.
Bottom Row:- $1.50 - Frodo Captured; $2.00 - The Shield Maiden of Rohan.
2003 - The six miniature sheets for Return of the King.
Top Row:- 40c - Legolas; 80c - Frodo Baggins; 90c - Merry and Pippin.
Bottom Row:- $1.30 - Aragorn; $1.50 - Gandalf the White; $2.00 - Gollum.
Bottom Row:- $1.30 - Aragorn; $1.50 - Gandalf the White; $2.00 - Gollum.
Top Row:- 70c - Bilbo Baggins; $1.40 - Gollum.
Middle Row:- $2.10 - Thorin Oakenshield; $2.40 - Radagast.
Bottom Row:- $1.90 - Gandalf; $2.90 - Elrond.
2013 - The six miniature sheets for The Desolation of Smaug.
Top Row:- 70c - Thorin Oakenshield; $1.40 - Gandalf.
Middle Row:- $1.90 - Tauriel; $2.10 - Bilbo Baggins.
Bottom Row:- $2.40 - Legolas Greenleaf; $2.90 - Bard the Bowman.
2014 - The seven miniature sheets for The Battle of the Five Armies.
Top Row:- 80c - Smaug; $1.40 - Bilbo Baggins.
2nd Row:- $2.00 - Gandalf; $2.10 - Thranduil.
3rd Row:- $2.50 - Bard the Bowman; $2.50 - Bag End.
Bottom Row:- $3.00 - Tauriel.
2016 A Journey Through Middle-earth.
2016 - The final miniature sheet The One Ring.
Technical information
Date of issue:
| 19 October 2016 |
|---|---|
Number of stamps:
| One gummed |
Denominations:
| $10.00 |
Stamps and miniaute sheets designed by:
| Richard Payne, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand |
Printer and process:
| Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography |
Number of colours:
| CMYK and 22 carat gold foil |
Stamp size and format:
| 33mm diameter round |
Paper type:
| 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
Number of stamps per sheet:
| 1 |
Perforation Gauge
| 14.48 |
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Information and images for this post came from.
Hi Girls
ReplyDeleteAn interesting page. I have enjoyed all the movies and you post beings back memories. It also led me to other pages concerning these movies.
I enjoyed the comments about Allan. He is a party popper too. I believe your light-hearted comments are fine here.
I've sent Allan some points you might consider changing and a couple of tiny mistakes. Otherwise good work girls. Oh have you thought about naming each miniature sheet in the collection at the bottom. Get them from Allan's posts.
Moa.
Thank you Moa.
ReplyDeleteWe have completed all your corrections. They were only minor and taken you suggestions too. The text from NZ Post said only miniature sheets but each sheet was crowned with a stamp so it's a good idea to mention them too.
Now as for the caption for each sheet. That is a good idea but it will take a bit longer to get done. We might need to move things around a bit by putting the present caption at the top of each block, as a title, so the sheet captions can be listed below.
Thank you.
Asami & Kim.
Those changes are now done. Captions for each miniature sheet have been added.
DeleteKim
What a great collection of miniature sheets. Good photos on them too. Like Moa said above, brings back memories of all these movies.
ReplyDeleteWould this post be a candidate for your hall of fame? These is a lot of good stuff here and I'm sure many of us will never see those pages from the special book or even all the miniature sheets together in one collection.
Andrew
I love that version of One Ring.
ReplyDeleteIn the depths of Mount NZ Post. LOL that's good.
Very clever.
James
Love The One Ring miniature sheet and continue to be on the lookout for one on sale.
ReplyDeleteThe One Ring Miniature sheet was only sold with the book. So I would expect there would not be many loose ones available.
ReplyDeleteAnne
Hi guys I have that whole collection if any one interested?
DeleteHi guy I have whole collection any one interested?
ReplyDelete