new Star Wars stamps

[Jonas]

The Stamps Will Be With You... Always
U.S. Postal Service unveils new Star Wars stamps.


March 28, 2007 - Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Darth Vader and, of course, R2-D2 are among the unforgettable Star Wars characters debuting on 15 new 41-cent postage stamps unveiled today at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, where the first Star Wars movie opened nearly 30 years ago.

The commemorative stamps feature images from all six movies in the Star Wars saga: Luke Skywalker; Han Solo and Chewbacca; Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2; C-3PO; Yoda; Queen Padme Amidala; Obi-Wan Kenobi as seen in Episodes IV through VI; Anakin Skywalker battling Obi-Wan Kenobi; Darth Vader; Emperor Palpatine; Darth Maul; Imperial Stormtroopers; Boba Fett; the Millennium Falcon; and an X-wing fighter. The stamps will be released at a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Friday, May 25, at Star Wars Celebration IV, the biggest Star Wars event in the galaxy, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"Star Wars fans everywhere will delight in the issuance of these exciting new postage stamps," said David Failor, executive director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service, who hosted the stamp preview along with R2-D2, Darth Vader and Howard Roffman, president of Lucas Licensing. "Because of the movies' popularity, we believe these stamps have the potential of reaching the blockbuster status of the Elvis stamp, a milestone only the Force could attempt to surpass. The Star Wars films have timeless qualities that cross generations, just like the United States Postal Service."

- USPS

Failor announced the Star Wars and U.S. Postal Service collaboration, which began March 16, when mailboxes around the country were designed to look like R2-D2 -- and which doesn't stop with the issuance of commemorative stamps. This exciting collaboration brings many opportunities to involve stamp collectors and Star Wars fans of all ages. Of the 15 images on the Star Wars stamp sheet, the Postal Service is inviting the public to vote on its favorite. The stamp receiving the most votes will be honored with the issuance of a single stamp, which will be for sale later this summer. Voting for the most popular Star Wars stamp will take place online HERE beginning today, March 28, through May 23. The winning stamp will be announced at the first-day-of-issue ceremony on May 25.

Check HERE for regular updates on the voting -- it's up to America to choose which Star Wars stamp wins the honor of a single-stamp sheet release. The design of the sheet of 15 stamps includes the Star Wars logo and background images of a space battle, including a Star Destroyer, TIE fighters, X-wing fighters, and the second Death Star under construction, as seen in Return of the Jedi. The background also includes the lightsaber-wielding form of Darth Vader, whose helmet comprises the largest of the 15 stamps.

The back of the stamp sheet includes extensive text describing the dramatic roles that each featured character or vehicle plays in the Star Wars saga. The design was created and painted by Drew Struzan, with minor modifications by the U.S. Postal Service to accommodate the needs of individual stamps. Struzan has also created posters for all six Star Wars movies. To obtain a downloadable 300 dpi image of these stamps visit the 2007 Commemorative Stamp Program release.

On March 16, approximately 400 fully functional mail collection boxes decorated as the beloved Star Wars character R2-D2 appeared on street corners from coast to coast. These R2-D2 boxes were the standard blue Postal Service mail collection boxes, just dressed in costume for the two-week period leading up to today's preview of the Star Wars stamp designs.

[GROOVIECHIC]

wooooo Hooooooo On The Star Wars Stamps! This Is The Right Time For Them To Be Out On The 30th Anniversary Of Star Wars. They Will Be A Collector Item One Day.