Toys, Games, Figures, and Other Materials >> Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary UK Stamps - Covers Part 2
Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary UK Stamps - Covers Part 2
11 Dec, 2022
(edited)
2022-12-11 7:06:19 PM UTC
2022-12-11 7:06:19 PM UTC
This is the third article looking at the UK Royal Mail Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary Stamps. It continues on from the previous article about the First Day Covers produced for the release, this article is looking at the covers produced by smaller organisations, including the Tolkien specific organisations.
The smaller organisations produced more specific covers with a specific postmark (although some of the postmarks can also be found on other covers).
There are two categories of these covers a; Tolkien related covers, b; non-Tolkien related covers.
Please note that this is not a complete list, particularly in the non-Tolkien related area, it is only those I have identified.
Let’s look at the Tolkien related covers first.
The Tolkien Society - these produced a Tolkien related double cover (the same cover but with half the stamps on each) featuring the Society Logo image and with The Tolkien Society Sarehole Mill Postmark. It was limited to 500 numbered copies.
Eagle and Child Oxford Pub - these produced 3 Tolkien related double covers (the same cover but with half the stamps on each). One featuring an image of the Pub, one an image of the Pub sign and the other featuring both images. Each of these had Eagle and Child Postmarks. Each of these were limited to only 20 numbered copies.
Regency Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of 5 covers with Tolkien art by the Tolkien artist Paul Gregory. Each cover has a different image and has 2 of stamps. I have only seen this set with the Myth & Magic Sirehampton Bristol Postmark.
Benham Covers (Hand Painted Originals) - this stamp organisation (who also produced a whole themed set of stamps for the release, see part 1 article) produced a very specialist cover as part of their Hand Painted series. This was a single cover with a hand painted water colour painting by the famous stamp artist Jennifer Toombs. It had 5 franked stamps on the front and 5 unfranked on the back. This cover had the Myth & Magic Treeton Rotherham Postmark. Although this stated a limited production of 200 numbered copied, I have found evidence that there were in fact only 50 produced. What makes this cover really special is that these are hand painted so no 2 are identical.
Bradbury Covers - this stamp organisation produced a Tolkien related double cover with 2 different Tolkien art pictures by artist Anne Sudworth, one on each cover, entitled Enchanted World. They have half the stamps on each cover with a specific Enchanted World Lancaster Postmark. This was part of Bradbury’s Sovereign Series, No 38. There were 3 versions of these covers. An normal, unsigned version, which was limited to 1000.
A version signed by the artist, which was limited to 500 copies.
A version signed by Ian McKellen, which was limited to 175 copies. Which has 2 wizard covers.
Norvic Covers - this stamp organisation produced 2 Tolkien related double covers (with half the stamps on each). One set features images by artists Mates Laurentiu and the other set by artist Lori Snowden. Both sets have a ‘good’ cover, with a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Postmark, and an ‘evil’ cover, with a Ringwould Postmark.
Phil Stamp Covers - this stamp organisation produced a Tolkien related double cover (with half the stamps on each) featuring 2 different comedy Tolkien images. One cover has a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Postcode and the other a Literary Legend Oxford Postmark. It was limited to 100 numbered copies.
GBCovers Cover - this stamp organisation produced a single cover with a first world war battlefield image, by artist Barry Hawkins, and an exclusive Ring Postmark (this is the only Lord of the Rings stamps cover I have seen with this Postmark). It was limited to 85 numbered copies.
Westminster Covers - this stamp organisation produced 3 covers in their 3 Literary Legend series.
The first is a Tolkien related cover in their Literary Legends Pallet series. It features art by artists David Roberts with a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Birmingham Art Pallet Postmark. It is a limited edition of 450 and signed by the artist.
The second is a fairly generic Forest image, it has a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Birmingham Flower Postmark. The cover also includes a silver library UK 50p proof coin. It was limited to 500 numbered copies.
The third is not a Tolkien related cover, it is a Ray Mears Autographed cover with an exclusive Literary Legend Autographed Edition Sarehole Mill Postmark.
So now let’s look at the Non-Tolkien related covers. There are 2 categories to this a; those with Tolkien specific Postmarks and b; those with non-Tolkien Postmarks. These are the ones I have identified with Tolkien specific Postmarks.
Stampex Cover - Stampex was a stamp exhibition which was taking place at the same time as the Lord of the Rings stamp release. A Non-Tolkien Cover was produced for the exhibition along with an exhibition Postmark, with the Lord of the Rings stamps. There was also a special 50th Lord of the Rings Postmark produced by the exhibition, which was also produced with the exhibition cover.
Steven Scott Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single “Planets” cover with a Middle Way Postmark. This has also been seen signed by artist Chris Achilleos. It was limited to 250 copies.
Steven Scott Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single “Battle of Ypres” cover with a Middle Way Postmark. This was primarily a cover signed by Field Marshal Earl Hague and was limited to 250 copies. However there were 20 produced unsigned.
Finally we have the non-Tolkien Related Covers with non-Tolkien Postmarks. Although these feature the Lord of the Rings stamps, they are not as collectable to Tolkien fans are the other covers.
Sheridan Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single King Arthur’s Labyrinth cover with a King Arthur’s Labyrinth Postmark. It was limited to 95 copies.
Machin Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of double covers (with 6 stamps on one cover and 4 on the other) featuring the same Machin image on both covers and an exclusive Machin Spring Philatex Postmark. It was very limited, although unconfirmed possibly to less than 10 copies.
Peter Payne Cover - this stamp organisation produced a single Lord of the ‘Strings’ cover with a Lord of the Strings Postmark. It was limited to 20 copies.
Royal Navel Covers - produced a 56th Anniversary of the George Cross cover with a George Cross Port Stanley Postmark. It was signed by J Lynch (who received the award and is featured on the cover and Postmark). It was limited to 60 copies.
British Forces Covers - had a generic cover for the stamps, however I have been unable to determine what Postmark was used.
Official Football Cover Series - produced a set of Liverpool League Cup Winners double covers (with half the stamps on each) and a League Cup Postmark.
Cambridge Stamp Centre - this stamp organisation produced a single Fiddlers Three cover with an Alfred Hitchcock Blackmail Film Postmark. This is part of their Ealing 100 Film Cover Series, number 23. It is limited to 20 copies.
Benham (Channel Tunnel) Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of Carried Through the Tunnel double covers (with half the stamps on each) featuring 2 different tunnel train images, one on each cover, and a permanent Channel Tunnel Folkestone Postmark. Each cover also has a different Railway Letter stamp with a special Carried Through The Tunnel Postmark.
This concludes the look at the main First Day Covers for the release. In the next, final article, we will look at a few unusual First Day Covers and Postcard First Day Issues.
The smaller organisations produced more specific covers with a specific postmark (although some of the postmarks can also be found on other covers).
There are two categories of these covers a; Tolkien related covers, b; non-Tolkien related covers.
Please note that this is not a complete list, particularly in the non-Tolkien related area, it is only those I have identified.
Let’s look at the Tolkien related covers first.
The Tolkien Society - these produced a Tolkien related double cover (the same cover but with half the stamps on each) featuring the Society Logo image and with The Tolkien Society Sarehole Mill Postmark. It was limited to 500 numbered copies.
Eagle and Child Oxford Pub - these produced 3 Tolkien related double covers (the same cover but with half the stamps on each). One featuring an image of the Pub, one an image of the Pub sign and the other featuring both images. Each of these had Eagle and Child Postmarks. Each of these were limited to only 20 numbered copies.
Regency Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of 5 covers with Tolkien art by the Tolkien artist Paul Gregory. Each cover has a different image and has 2 of stamps. I have only seen this set with the Myth & Magic Sirehampton Bristol Postmark.
Benham Covers (Hand Painted Originals) - this stamp organisation (who also produced a whole themed set of stamps for the release, see part 1 article) produced a very specialist cover as part of their Hand Painted series. This was a single cover with a hand painted water colour painting by the famous stamp artist Jennifer Toombs. It had 5 franked stamps on the front and 5 unfranked on the back. This cover had the Myth & Magic Treeton Rotherham Postmark. Although this stated a limited production of 200 numbered copied, I have found evidence that there were in fact only 50 produced. What makes this cover really special is that these are hand painted so no 2 are identical.
Bradbury Covers - this stamp organisation produced a Tolkien related double cover with 2 different Tolkien art pictures by artist Anne Sudworth, one on each cover, entitled Enchanted World. They have half the stamps on each cover with a specific Enchanted World Lancaster Postmark. This was part of Bradbury’s Sovereign Series, No 38. There were 3 versions of these covers. An normal, unsigned version, which was limited to 1000.
A version signed by the artist, which was limited to 500 copies.
A version signed by Ian McKellen, which was limited to 175 copies. Which has 2 wizard covers.
Norvic Covers - this stamp organisation produced 2 Tolkien related double covers (with half the stamps on each). One set features images by artists Mates Laurentiu and the other set by artist Lori Snowden. Both sets have a ‘good’ cover, with a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Postmark, and an ‘evil’ cover, with a Ringwould Postmark.
Phil Stamp Covers - this stamp organisation produced a Tolkien related double cover (with half the stamps on each) featuring 2 different comedy Tolkien images. One cover has a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Postcode and the other a Literary Legend Oxford Postmark. It was limited to 100 numbered copies.
GBCovers Cover - this stamp organisation produced a single cover with a first world war battlefield image, by artist Barry Hawkins, and an exclusive Ring Postmark (this is the only Lord of the Rings stamps cover I have seen with this Postmark). It was limited to 85 numbered copies.
Westminster Covers - this stamp organisation produced 3 covers in their 3 Literary Legend series.
The first is a Tolkien related cover in their Literary Legends Pallet series. It features art by artists David Roberts with a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Birmingham Art Pallet Postmark. It is a limited edition of 450 and signed by the artist.
The second is a fairly generic Forest image, it has a Literary Legend Sarehole Mill Birmingham Flower Postmark. The cover also includes a silver library UK 50p proof coin. It was limited to 500 numbered copies.
The third is not a Tolkien related cover, it is a Ray Mears Autographed cover with an exclusive Literary Legend Autographed Edition Sarehole Mill Postmark.
So now let’s look at the Non-Tolkien related covers. There are 2 categories to this a; those with Tolkien specific Postmarks and b; those with non-Tolkien Postmarks. These are the ones I have identified with Tolkien specific Postmarks.
Stampex Cover - Stampex was a stamp exhibition which was taking place at the same time as the Lord of the Rings stamp release. A Non-Tolkien Cover was produced for the exhibition along with an exhibition Postmark, with the Lord of the Rings stamps. There was also a special 50th Lord of the Rings Postmark produced by the exhibition, which was also produced with the exhibition cover.
Steven Scott Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single “Planets” cover with a Middle Way Postmark. This has also been seen signed by artist Chris Achilleos. It was limited to 250 copies.
Steven Scott Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single “Battle of Ypres” cover with a Middle Way Postmark. This was primarily a cover signed by Field Marshal Earl Hague and was limited to 250 copies. However there were 20 produced unsigned.
Finally we have the non-Tolkien Related Covers with non-Tolkien Postmarks. Although these feature the Lord of the Rings stamps, they are not as collectable to Tolkien fans are the other covers.
Sheridan Covers - this stamp organisation produced a single King Arthur’s Labyrinth cover with a King Arthur’s Labyrinth Postmark. It was limited to 95 copies.
Machin Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of double covers (with 6 stamps on one cover and 4 on the other) featuring the same Machin image on both covers and an exclusive Machin Spring Philatex Postmark. It was very limited, although unconfirmed possibly to less than 10 copies.
Peter Payne Cover - this stamp organisation produced a single Lord of the ‘Strings’ cover with a Lord of the Strings Postmark. It was limited to 20 copies.
Royal Navel Covers - produced a 56th Anniversary of the George Cross cover with a George Cross Port Stanley Postmark. It was signed by J Lynch (who received the award and is featured on the cover and Postmark). It was limited to 60 copies.
British Forces Covers - had a generic cover for the stamps, however I have been unable to determine what Postmark was used.
Official Football Cover Series - produced a set of Liverpool League Cup Winners double covers (with half the stamps on each) and a League Cup Postmark.
Cambridge Stamp Centre - this stamp organisation produced a single Fiddlers Three cover with an Alfred Hitchcock Blackmail Film Postmark. This is part of their Ealing 100 Film Cover Series, number 23. It is limited to 20 copies.
Benham (Channel Tunnel) Covers - this stamp organisation produced a set of Carried Through the Tunnel double covers (with half the stamps on each) featuring 2 different tunnel train images, one on each cover, and a permanent Channel Tunnel Folkestone Postmark. Each cover also has a different Railway Letter stamp with a special Carried Through The Tunnel Postmark.
This concludes the look at the main First Day Covers for the release. In the next, final article, we will look at a few unusual First Day Covers and Postcard First Day Issues.
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