Original Renewal Gifts

The Guild was set up in 1994 and on joining members received the Ankh-Morpork Coat of Arms (Shield).  Each year thereafter another Shield was produced.  At the beginning these were optional with collectors purchasing them (this means that the first shields sold in low numbers). 

On renewal each year members were rewarded with a little renewal gift.  For renewing for a second year collectors were given the Pewter Keyring and Key of the Unseen University (DPKY).  These have reached up to £60 but between £10 and £30 is more usual.  I love the detail on this piece.  The bearded old wizard at the top of the key, embracing it, the clarity on the coat of arms shown on the keyring (the  motto will be explained in the Shields Section).

On the second renewal, members received Ankh-Morpork Dollars in a Velvet Bag (DPDL).  This was 2 small pewter ‘dollars’ featuring the Patrician, packaged up in a velvet pouch. 

The gift on third renewal was a Copper Lapel Badge of the City Watch (DPBD).  This is 3cm x 2cm and is genuine copper.  This badge is not to be confused with the larger badge that was available for a short while in 1995.  The larger badge was 4cm x 3cm, made of pewter with a copper finish and was on general sale for £4.99  This item was number DW95V and wasn’t very popular and was difficult to make due to the finish.  Therefore it was only available for a short time and the numbers sold are few.  (I have put these side by side in a picture so comparison can be made, the badge on the right is the renewal gift).  The renewal gift badges have changed hands for up to £50.  As noted in the Collectors Guide produced by Clarecraft, one collector got in touch complaining that the badge didn’t seem like a lot for his money!!

I waited a long while to get my hands on the little badge and it is beautifully made.  Its a shame that I daren’t take it out of the tin it lives in for fear of losing it :D.  I also feel slightly embarrassed to admit that until I went to photograph it a few minutes ago I hadn’t realised I had never even taken it out of the plastic bag.  The mad collector in me is refusing to allow me to open the bag as it is the original bag it was sealed in when it was made and, well, collectors just don’t do that sort of thing!!  I have folded the bag as best as I can to avoid the light shining off it.  I did intend to take it out of the bag, I really did but when it came down to it, I couldn’t do it.  Not even for this, sorry! 

Again, the detail in the pieces is amazing, the mottos can be clearly read.  The motto across the top reads ‘Merust in Pectum et in Aquam’, or ‘Pure in Heart and Water’.  The other motto is ‘Fabricati Diem Punc’.  I’m sure you can work that one out for yourselves but for the sake of completeness it obviously resembles ‘Make my day, Punk‘ in the ‘not quite latin‘ that can be seen in most of the Guild mottos (Latatian which Terry described as being ‘very doggy Latin‘).  That motto appears to be a truncated version of the motto of King Veltrick which was ‘Fabricati Diem, Puncti Agunt Celeriter‘, (Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly’). 

Carrot also suggested the Watch may have a motto of ‘The Innocent have Nothing to Fear’.  Thankfully this was vetoed by Vimes aside from the obvious inaccuracy of this sentiment (noble as it is) there are also the practicalities of finding an innocent person in AM.

At the end of 1996 Elton Murphy joined Clarecraft and took over responsibility for the Guild.  He immediately found that having different items for different renewals led to difficulties working out which member was due which gift.  He came up with the idea of the renewal gifts changing with the year, not the length of membership.  The logical choice therefore was to have the shields (that were being produced every year anyway) as the renewal gift.

I will tackle all the shields in another section.  Most shields were produced as renewal gifts however extra ones were made and released for sale.  I have already covered the Gamblers Shield but will write about the rest of them together.