jedimarkj
Sr Member
A couple of weeks ago I received Thror’s Map from Weta, and thought I would do a short review of it.
I ordered the much pricier prop replica version of the map rather than the lower priced parchment
although I do have it on order and will update this thread with comparison shots.
The original prop was created by Daniel Reeve, Weta artist and calligrapher extraordinaire.
He actually does all the wrinkling and creasing on the replica which is pretty awesome and really quite well done.
Although very similar, The Hobbit version of the map is quite different from the one you
see in The Fellowship of the Ring that Gandalf picks up. There are also a number of changes from the original book map.
For instance, Thrain has been replaced with Thror, Mirkwood with Greenwood, etc.
There is also the addition of Ravenhill on the map…
The map comes with nothing else save a COA that is signed by Daniel Reeve.
The map is printed rather than hand drawn. The map is printed on “190gsm Rough S&W watercolour paper” according to
the website, which is thick and definitely has a great weight to it. It also has a great texture and feel to it. The weathering
details/stains are also printed on rather than done by hand although they do look natural. The only thing done by hand are
all the folds and the wrinkling and creasing. The torn edges of the map are too “clean” and “perfect” in my opinion and
should have been done by hand or at the least, weathered further to get a more natural look to it.
The back of the map is printed in black with the exception of the moon runes which can be seen on the front
of the map by when you shine a light at the back. It was a pretty clever way to do the moon runes.
The price is something some would probably balk at and I wouldn’t blame you. I’m still getting used to paying so
much for a paper prop myself. It’s great that the original artist did all the creasing and bending, but $200 for a printed
paper prop that didn’t even come with a display/frame is a bit much, in my humble opinion. The price would be much
easier to swallow if it were a limited edition replica and came with the display frame that’s available at Weta’s retail store and was shown at SDCC…
It is a still a great prop and, overall, I am quite happy with it being in my collection.
Below are some of the pictures under some natural lighting. Enjoy!
The map is well protected when it is shipped. It is placed in a plastic sleeve and covered with tissue paper. It also shipped in a very sturd box.
View attachment 121993View attachment 121994View attachment 121995View attachment 121996
Here is a shot of the front and back of the map plus the area where the hidden message is seen when see under the light of the moon.
Some shots of the Smaug and the Lonely Mountain:
View attachment 122003View attachment 122004View attachment 122006View attachment 122007View attachment 122008
Here are some shots of the maps and the weathering, stains and paper detail:
View attachment 122022View attachment 122023View attachment 122024View attachment 122025View attachment 122026
View attachment 122027View attachment 122028View attachment 122029View attachment 122030View attachment 122031
Here are comparison shots as well as a gif comparing the replica with the map you see in one of the trailers. Interesting to note some of the differences...
View attachment 122011View attachment 122012
I also took a shot comparing the size of Weta's replica with the various replicas made of Thror's Map from The Fellowship of the Ring.
I ordered the much pricier prop replica version of the map rather than the lower priced parchment
although I do have it on order and will update this thread with comparison shots.
The original prop was created by Daniel Reeve, Weta artist and calligrapher extraordinaire.
He actually does all the wrinkling and creasing on the replica which is pretty awesome and really quite well done.
Although very similar, The Hobbit version of the map is quite different from the one you
see in The Fellowship of the Ring that Gandalf picks up. There are also a number of changes from the original book map.
For instance, Thrain has been replaced with Thror, Mirkwood with Greenwood, etc.
There is also the addition of Ravenhill on the map…
The map comes with nothing else save a COA that is signed by Daniel Reeve.
The map is printed rather than hand drawn. The map is printed on “190gsm Rough S&W watercolour paper” according to
the website, which is thick and definitely has a great weight to it. It also has a great texture and feel to it. The weathering
details/stains are also printed on rather than done by hand although they do look natural. The only thing done by hand are
all the folds and the wrinkling and creasing. The torn edges of the map are too “clean” and “perfect” in my opinion and
should have been done by hand or at the least, weathered further to get a more natural look to it.
The back of the map is printed in black with the exception of the moon runes which can be seen on the front
of the map by when you shine a light at the back. It was a pretty clever way to do the moon runes.
The price is something some would probably balk at and I wouldn’t blame you. I’m still getting used to paying so
much for a paper prop myself. It’s great that the original artist did all the creasing and bending, but $200 for a printed
paper prop that didn’t even come with a display/frame is a bit much, in my humble opinion. The price would be much
easier to swallow if it were a limited edition replica and came with the display frame that’s available at Weta’s retail store and was shown at SDCC…
It is a still a great prop and, overall, I am quite happy with it being in my collection.
Below are some of the pictures under some natural lighting. Enjoy!
The map is well protected when it is shipped. It is placed in a plastic sleeve and covered with tissue paper. It also shipped in a very sturd box.
View attachment 121993View attachment 121994View attachment 121995View attachment 121996
Here is a shot of the front and back of the map plus the area where the hidden message is seen when see under the light of the moon.
Some shots of the Smaug and the Lonely Mountain:
View attachment 122003View attachment 122004View attachment 122006View attachment 122007View attachment 122008
Here are some shots of the maps and the weathering, stains and paper detail:
View attachment 122022View attachment 122023View attachment 122024View attachment 122025View attachment 122026
View attachment 122027View attachment 122028View attachment 122029View attachment 122030View attachment 122031
Here are comparison shots as well as a gif comparing the replica with the map you see in one of the trailers. Interesting to note some of the differences...
View attachment 122011View attachment 122012
I also took a shot comparing the size of Weta's replica with the various replicas made of Thror's Map from The Fellowship of the Ring.