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squirrelismyfriend — Bilbo Baggins' Contract Page 1 - The Hobbit
#baggins #bilbo #calligraphy #contract #hobbit #movie #prop #thorin #oakenshield
Published: 2014-08-30 20:12:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 3141; Favourites: 21; Downloads: 0
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Finally finished page 1 of the contract between Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield from "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." All pencil lines erased and the edges trimmed. The bottom edge will be trimmed when it comes time to sew it to page 2.Next up: page 2. Still to come: page 3 of the main contract plus the two side pages.
Manuscript pens, nibs, and ink. Canson 12"x18" 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. Title text written with 4B nibs for both red and black. Main text written with 4B and Broad nibs for black; 3B, 2B, and Broad nibs for red. Fine print written with Fine and Music nibs for black and Fine nib for Red. Flourishes done using Fine nib.
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Comments: 29
This is amazing!
I need to make one for my cosplay because you can’t get the noble collection one anymore 😭 I’m no good at calligraphy but I thought finding pictures and printing them and tracing the writing on a lightboard might do. Just finding the whole thing that’s clear enough to do so.
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That's more difficult that you might think. I could not find images of the original clear enough to work from. I did find a source that had the transcribed text (see other comments below), which was of tremendous value when combined with the few images that I could find. The images weren't clear or large enough to make out the fine print, but when combined with the transcribed text I could figure out what was supposed to go where.
After I had completed this page, I discovered a book ("The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Chronicles" by Daniel Falconer) which shows the contract in all its complete glory (although very small), complete with side pages as well as earlier versions that were produced for the movie before this final version was approved. The book was on clearance at a local book store, and I had a gift card, so it was a no-brainer to pick up. You might be able to find one online, perhaps on eBay. I wish I had this reference before doing this page, but at least I'll have it now before completing the other pages (yes, I still need to finish them...)
If you do get around to making this, use some heavy paper. I used 140 lb watercolor paper, but you can use something lighter, say 65 lb cardstock. It isn't transparent, so tracing won't work, but you may be able to find an art center that can project an image onto material for tracing. Or if you manage to find a good enough original image, you might get a copy center to copy (and maybe enlarge) a good-quality image onto heavy paper for you.
Who will you be cosplaying that would need a contract?
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did you ever get around to finishing this would love to see the rest
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Not yet ... real life has gotten in my way of so many things I want to do... >
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This is a very ambitious project. I doubt I could have even finished the first page of it. Great work.
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Thank you so much! Yes, it is ambitious, but more to my current concern, it is time-consuming, and I unfortunately don't have the time to put towards it at present. I *WILL* finish it, though. Keep watching...
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Good luck. Time consuming does tend to be a problem.
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Sure does. "Time-consuming" is usually the enemy of "It's finished!"
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Fantastic work! Where did you get your references from? I am working on the same thing, but it's hard to find the proper text...
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There are several versions of the text out there. Here is a page that has Word and PDF versions:
hole-intheground.blogspot.com/…
As for images, there aren't any hi-res images of the entire contract that I've found. But if you Google "hobbit contract" you can find hi-res versions of portions of it, and medium-res versions of the rest. You should be able to do a good replica with that. Once you get far enough into it, following the hi-res version for the first page, you will probably have a good enough feel for how the writing is done so that the medium-res version should suffice.
I'd like to see your version when you get enough done to share!
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Thanks a lot! I've found several good sources, but yours is perfect. I'll keep you updated. It might take a while though
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Yup, it prob'ly will. Mine sure is...
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Wow, that is really impressive! Can't wait for the other pages 
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Thanx! Page 2 is in progress. I'll post a WIP when I get the main text done.
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You're welcome 
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Thanky so much!
You know, this is almost fitting. Back in high school (MANY moons ago), we actually studied "Fellowship of the Ring" in my senior English literature class. I got my first calligraphy pen specifically so I could write Tengwar. All my other calligraphy experience came later. Now, over *mumbledy* decades later, I've returned to Middle Earth to do more calligraphy. It's not Tengwar, but it's still fun. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of finished product I can make with this...
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Hehe! Cool! I've always admired calligraphy!
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Thanky again!
I love calligraphy, too, but something I really admire and would like to do someday is illumination - you know, stuff like this ...
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"May he who illuminated this, illuminate me." -- Sean Connery as Henry Jones, Sr. in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
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Really! Makes me want to go out and buy some gouache and gold leaf to try it myself...
... some other time, tho ...
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Actually, I *DID* go out and buy some gouache and made my first try at illumination. I posted it here
No gold leaf, though...
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Thank you! And thanks for the fave!
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My pleasure. Outstanding work!
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