20212021 The Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring 20th Anniv. Set of Maximum Cards - Maxi Cards

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film release in Peter Jackson’s epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy. One of modern cinema’s greatest achievements, the film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards.

Celebrating the anniversary, a set of six stamps and miniature sheets features key moments from the film with original paintings by award-winning Wellington artist Sacha Lees. Lees worked as a designer and sculptor on the films and designed New Zealand Post’s The Fellowship of the Ring stamps in 2001.

$1.50 The Journey Begins - In the region of The Shire, the village Hobbiton is home to hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Scenes here were filmed near Matamata on the private Alexander Farm, whose rolling hills provided an idyllic backdrop.

$1.50 Hiding from the Black Rider - Taking cover in a hollow among the roots of a tree, Frodo and his friends evade an envoy of Mordor. Surprisingly, this forested scene was filmed not in a remote location but in Wellington city’s Town Belt.

$1.50 The Prancing Pony - As their quest begins, Frodo and his hobbit friends Sam, Pippin and Merry drink ale at the Prancing Pony in Bree, where they first meet Aragorn. The Bree scenes were filmed at former army camp Fort Dorset in Seatoun, Wellington.

$2.80 Flight to the Ford - After Frodo is stabbed, Arwen the elven princess gallops with him on her horse through a prairie and a wood to the safety of a river. The scene was filmed at the Shotover River which flows through the rocky gorge Skippers Canyon, near Queenstown.

$3.60 The Bridge of Khazad-dûm - Perhaps the movie’s most theatrical momen

t takes place in subterranean labyrinth the Mines of Moria, where Gandalf turns and cries “You shall not pass” to the fire-breathing Balrog.

$4.10 The Gates of Argonath - Journeying along the River Anduin in three boats, the Fellowship passes two gigantic stone statues guarding the northern border of Gondor. This epic scene was filmed in the Kawarau Gorge and Kawarau River near Queenstown.

Presentation pack

Collect the six miniature sheets and two first day covers in this issue with the presentation pack, which features additional illustrations by the issue’s designer and artist Sacha Lees.