Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Darth Vader and R2-D2 are among the STAR WARS characters debuting on 15 new $.41 postage stamps unveiled today (March 28, 2007) 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: 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, exec director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service, who hosted the stamp preview. "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."
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.
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 at www.uspsjedimaster.com beginning March 28, through May 23. The winning stamp will be announced at the first-day-of-issue ceremony on May 25.
From March 28 through May 7, customers can enter this sweepstakes by solving six different challenges about Postal Service products and services featuring a STAR WARS theme. As each question is answered correctly, customers are automatically moved to the next challenge. At the start of the sweepstakes, customers enter their contact information into a sweepstakes form. There is a limit of one entry per challenge, for a total of six entries. For details, go to www.starwars.com/celebration.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
