Single $2.00 'The Lair of Shelob' gummed stamp.
A stunning achievement of set construction, Shelob’s Lair is also a place of treachery. Promising to lead Frodo safely to Mount Doom, Gollum tricks him towards the monstrous spider. At first Frodo escapes using a light Galadriel gave him, but Shelob stings him eventually. Filmed in the Wellington studios, this scene features, according to the documentary ‘Designing Middle Earth’, artificial rocks inspired by seaside rocks at Seatoun, boiled bones from a local butcher, and synthetic cobwebs cooked in a deep fryer.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 20th Anniversary celebrated the talent of Kiwi filmmakers and the films’ legacy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Click here for more information about the stamp issue.
Check out the full range of single stamps still available for purchase here.
| Date of issue: | 1 November 2023 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Six gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $2.00 x 2, $3.30 x 2, $4.00 & $4.60 |
| Stamp designs: | $2.00 Arwen, $2.00 The Lair of Shelob, $3.30 The Army of the Dead, $3.30 The Shieldmaiden of Rohan, $4.00 Gandalf and the Moth, $4.60 The Ring is Mine |
| Stamps and first day covers designed by: | Sacha Lees, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 50mm x 35.71mm (horizontal) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 112mm x 66mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell red phosphor gummed stamp paper 106gsm |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 20 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.40 x 14.00 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 31 October 2024. First day covers remained on sale until 27 December 2023. Miniature sheet first day covers will remain on sale indefinitely. |