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Did you correctly guess the other ‘Hobbit’ stamps?
We probably guessed Gollum and Gandalf but how many of us predicted that Thorin Oakenshield and Radagast would appear on the new ‘Hobbit’ stamps?
Following their earlier sneak preview of the new Bilbo Baggins stamp, New Zealand Post has now revealed to fans and collectors its complete set of six new ‘Hobbit’ stamps. Issued to coincide with Sir Peter Jackson’s new blockbuster trilogy, the first film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” is due for release in the UK on 14th December.
The complete set of 6 stamps issued by New Zealand Post
So here’s who else features on the new Middle Earth stamps …
70c Bilbo Baggins – Like all Hobbits, Bilbo Baggins lives a quiet life in the Shire but finds himself on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
$1.40 Gollum – Once a hobbit-like creature named Sméagol, Gollum’s body and soul have been poisoned by the power of the precious one.
$1.90 Gandalf – One of the most powerful Wizards in all Middle-earth, Gandalf the Grey joins the quest to reclaim Erebor and the great treasure that lies within its stone halls from a fire-breathing dragon, Smaug the Terrible.
$2.10 Thorin Oakenshield – A strong, fearless fighter and respected leader of The Company of Dwarves, Thorin is determined to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that brought misery upon his people.
$2.40 Radagast – Forgetful, easily distracted and quite eccentric, Radagast is more comfortable talking to animals than people. A fellow Wizard and friend of Gandalf the Grey, Radagast is one of the guardians of the great forests of Middle-earth.
$2.90 Elrond – Elrond is one of the wisest and most ancient of the Elves remaining in Middle-earth. He is also Master of Rivendell, the Last Homely House East of the Sea.
New Zealand Post is also issuing the only official legal tender commemorative coins from Middle earth.
The second film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” will follow in December 2013, with the final film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” earmarked for release in July, 2014.
A superb range of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” collectables including coins and stamps is now available to buy from The Westminster Collection.
Stamps announced from “Middle Earth”
The first Hobbit Stamp to be revealed by New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post has given film buffs and stamp collectors an unexpected treat by revealing one of its new ‘Hobbit’ stamps ahead of the issue’s official 1st November release date.
Featuring Bilbo Baggins, the 70c stamp is part of a larger set issued to coincide with Sir Peter Jackson’s brand new ‘Hobbit’ movies. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first film in the trilogy and is due to hit the big screens in the UK in December.
With interest in the Oscar-winning director’s latest Tolkien adaptation already mounting, this sneak preview has done much to whet the appetite of collectors everywhere – but who’s on the other stamps remains a closely guarded secret.
Following ‘The Lord of the Rings’ success
Of course, this isn’t the first time New Zealand Post has issued Tolkien stamps in conjunction with a movie blockbuster. Between 2001-2003, they produced a range of commemorative stamp issues featuring various ‘Lord of the Rings’ characters including Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir and Legolas. That trilogy was also filmed entirely on location in New Zealand.
Commemorative coins for the new ‘Hobbit’ trilogy will be issued by New Zealand Post at a later date. The second film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” will follow in December 2013, with the final film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” earmarked for release in July 2014.
Dwarves or elves?
So which other Middle Earth favourites would you like to see on the new stamps?
Letter from the Moon – how Neil Armstrong posted a letter from the Moon
It was with great sadness that the world heard that one of its heroes had passed away on 25th August.
America’s greatest astronaut, Neil Armstrong
Of course, we all know the story of how Neil Armstrong landed on the moon but so many of us know about how he sent the first ever “moon letter” and started a new collecting craze in the USA.
Shrouded in Secrecy
Under great secrecy in case the mission went wrong, the US Postal Service prepared a 10 cent Stamp to celebrate the United States winning the race to the moon.
However, what made this stamp unique was the fact that Armstrong and his co-astronaut ”Buzz” Aldrin took with them on their historic journey not just the die that would make the stamp’s printing plates but also a special ‘Moon letter’ bearing a die proof of the stamp itself. The plan was that the letter would be personally postmarked by Armstrong and Aldrin while they were on the Moon.
The 10 Cent Moon landing stamp of 1969
The stamp itself had been designed by Paul Calle, a well-known and respected designer from Connecticut. “It quickly became obvious that the first step on the Moon was the most dramatic moment and with that final sketch we knew we had our design!”
Paul Calle with his historic Moon landing design
Calle’s main problem however, was envisaging what the moon would actually look like. The artist took a chance and showed the module’s tripod foot making a very faint imprint. Fortunately, that turned out to be exactly right.
In Violation of Federal Law
Although some collectors questioned whether the stamp violated federal law by using a living person’s picture, it was argued that though his features were completely hidden by a space suit, it could have been none other than Neil Armstrong.
On 20th July, the lunar module Eagle landed on the Moon. As the world watched on, Commander Armstrong sent the good news from 235,000 miles away: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
Back home in Connecticut, Paul Calle recalls how he “sat glued to the television set.” “Fortunately, when Armstrong took that first step, it was perfect,” he said. “Just as I envisioned on the stamp.”
The First Ever “Moon Letter”
Aldrin later joined Armstrong on the Moon’s surface. As it turned out, the two astronauts didn’t have time to postmark the “Moon letter.” So the envelope and its die proof actually were given the “MOON LANDING/USA/JUL/20/1969” hand stamp during the return journey.
Nevertheless, the Moon letter had travelled more than a half-million miles, a lot lot further than any other piece of post had ever travelled. On their return home, the letter underwent a decontamination period at Houston, along with the astronauts themselves. All were quarantined for 18 days.
Decontaminated before production
The die was also processed for decontamination before it was sent to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where the process of preparing the plates for stamp production began promptly.
Because of its larger size – it was 50 percent larger than conventional U.S. commemoratives – the stamp was produced in sheets of 128 rather than 200 subjects. A total of 152,364,800 stamps were printed and distributed.
The stamp inspired great interest among first day cover collectors. Within three weeks after the 9th July initial announcement, there had been 500,000 requests for First Day Covers, which would bear not only the 9th September Washington, D.C., date stamp but also a replica of the July 20 “MOON LANDING USA” date stamp that the astronauts applied to their very own Moon letter.
Nearly 9 million First Day Covers
The final tally of first day covers was a phenomenal 8,743,070, a figure that nearly trebled the previous high of three million. In comparison, even the Elvis Presley commemorative stamp of 8th January 1993, one of the most popular stamps in history, received only 4,451,718 official Memphis, Tennessee, first day of issue postmarks.
Given the historical significance of this story, it is fitting that stamps and coins will be among the key tributes issued to commemorate the greatest of American Heroes.