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Pre-order now from our New Zealand warehouse for an estimated delivery 4th Quarter 2024.

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873901042

From New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. comes J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, brought to the big screen in an epic trilogy. Weta Workshop was thrilled to return to Middle-earth once again, contributing design, specialty props and specialty costumes to all three films.

BILBO™ DEED OF CONTRACT

Prop Replica
Dimensions:
(W x H x L) 65.5 cm x 138 cm x 1 cm
Weight: 1.323 lbs (0.6 kg)

After the rather rude and un-Hobbit-like way that his rowdy guests (or intruders) presented themselves at Bag End, it's little wonder that Bilbo Baggins took some time to read through the contract presented to him by Thorin Oakenshield and the band of Dwarves in his company.

A hefty document by any standards, these Conditions of Engagement govern a job that Thorin Oakenshield desperately needs done. An adventurous undertaking judging by the Contract, and adventure is something most hobbits resist.

If Bilbo Baggins returns from this quest alive, he will not be the same hobbit who ran from his front door, having forgotten his pocket handkerchief.

Weta's The Contract of Bilbo Baggins is quite a remarkable artefact created by the artists of the 3Foot7 Art Department in Wellington, New Zealand.

Hand-made by calligrapher and artist Daniel Reeve, who made the iconic original contract used in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, this is an absolutely authentic prop replica.

Creating these things for the films was such a pleasure - but after their fleeting moments in the movie, they’re gone. So it’s fantastic now to be able to faithfully reproduce them for fans, to own for themselves, and enjoy all the detail that went into them, the detail that can never be fully appreciated on screen.

Daniel Reeve

Daniel scans his original script which is then digitally printed onto five separate pieces of high-quality watercolour paper for each contract and then die cut to shape. This is the same paper used in the films.

Daniel explains the choice of paper: "The paper for the Contract is Arches watercolour 185gsm Cold-Pressed. A beautiful paper for calligraphy, with enough tooth to generate skips, texture and character in any pen work. It takes ink and paint beautifully, and can withstand repeated wettings."

Daniel then commences the process of painting the edges of the various sheets and stitching them together by hand, and then fastens the thread with wax seals. He painstakingly applies every crease and every wrinkle by hand, ageing the paper to achieve an authentic looking prop replica.

Each exquisite 4'7" x 2'2" (141cm x 66cm) piece of art is the work of one man and totally unique.

Daniel's craft is indeed a rare one and this is a prop replica the likes of which few have seen.

Available in strictly limited supply and always subject to the artist's availability, The Contract of Bilbo Baggins will be shipped direct from Weta Workshop in New Zealand, tied with a ribbon, rolled up in a plain cardboard box. 

Its dimensions rolled up are 9in x 4.5in x 2.2in (23cm x 11cm x 5.5cm).

The contract comes with a printed Certificate of Authenticity signed by hand by Daniel Reeve. Not that we think it's likely anyone would even try to attempt forgery...

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Reviews

  1. YOU HAD ME AT \'HELLO...\'
    A must buy

    Review by

  2. Fantastuc document
    The detail of it all is amazing and I hope my partner will love it.

    The only problem with mine when it arrived yesterday, there was no certificate

    Review by

  3. Great Document
    What a fantastic job by Daniel Reeves. He was right, the movie doesn't do the contract justice. It looks incredible. Although it was expensive, I believe it is worth it to have a unique prop replica. A very high end collectable for the serious LOTR fan.

    Review by

  4. Not Vegan
    Didn't buy this. Looks really great but too much money and Arches watercolor paper is sized with animal based gelatin which makes it not vegan which is why I won't be buying this piece nor do I paint on Arches paper. Now, possibly if they made a vegan friendly version :-)

    Review by

  5. Great work, but...
    What ruins it somewhat is the copyright message on the back. Is it really needed? In Sweden you don't have to put copyrights on everything to secure the right. You are protected anyway. Its unfortunate for such a great replica.

    Review by

  6. Top notch paper prop!
    This is a HUGE and well done prop. When you hold it , it is like a real prop, the feeling of the paper is great on hands , it is sewed , folded and wrinkled with care as seen in the movie.
    A little bit expensive but it worth the money. the aged background with watercolour splattering and degradates are great and reproduced with high quality print. It is a nice adition to a hobbit display shelf.

    Review by

  7. Very Authentic.
    This is a very real collectible. It almost does look like the prop used in the movie! It is not numbered but is very easily one of my coolest collectibles!

    Review by

  8. Top Notch
    It was everything I imagined. The paper is authentic to the touch. The evident craftsmanship in the aging is amazing. Even the printing is almost indiscernible from actual hand calligraphy. I am awed to own this item. Funny part was the private contracted delivery man was driving a Corvette. I thought I was being served papers. Everything is always done Top Notch from WETA!! LOL

    Review by

  9. I'm curious
    I'm just curious as to how many people have purchased this prop replica so far. As there haven't been any other reviews, it looks like it just might be AMiller and myself. Up to this point in time this is the most I've ever spent on an individual movie prop replica. As expensive as it, I purchased it specifically because I know it is a work of art, painstakingly made by hand by Daniel Reeve and therefore unique - everyone's else's copy is not going to be the same as mine and vice versa. Although it came with a certificate of authenticity signed by Daniel, it doesn't indicate how many have been made. The only way this item could possibly be more unique than it already is, is if Daniel calligraphed each one by hand. In reality, this is still somewhat of a mass-produced item since Daniel's script is scanned and then 'digitally printed onto high-quality watercolor paper and then die cut to shape' for each contract, but after that it's totally his hand work. And for that work I'm very impressed and very grateful. My hat's off to you Daniel!

    Review by

  10. Great Replica
    This is not a xerox or photo copy
    like the other cheap ones you see
    for sale. Expensive, yes. But
    when you see this item, you'll
    think they sent you the actual movie prop by mistake.

    Review by

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