« February 2007 |  Main  | April 2007 »

March 31, 2007

Lots of new U.S. stamps in our future

As expected, the USPS has announced a batch of stamps to meet the new rates, along with 15 previously unannounced stamps for the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars.�

Since there are probably more fans of “Star Wars� than of higher postage rates, let’s discuss those stamps first.

Images from all six of the films are included on the commemoratives, the subjects of which will be Luke Skywalker; Han Solo and Chewbacca; Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2; C-3PO; Yoda; Queen Padmé 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 May 25 at Star Wars Celebration IV, a “Star Wars� convention, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Those of you who think these stamps are far too commercial might as well forget that argument in light of — among other stamps — this year’s Hershey’s Kisses stamp, issues for DC and Marvel Comics characters and the Art of Disney issues, not to mention the commercial themes of some of the Celebrate the Century issues.

The “Star Wars� stamps will have face values of 41 cents, the new first-class rate, but it seems certain that many of them will never be used to mail a letter but will instead join other movie memorabilia in collections around the world.

In fact, the news release announcing the stamps contains this paragraph:

“ ‘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. ... ‘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,’ said Failor …�

The USPS is conducting a poll to determine the favorite “Star Wars� stamp, and the stamp that wins will be issued as a separate single stamp later in the summer (all the stamps will be on a single sheet).

Voting started March 28 and runs through May 23 here, with the winner to be announced at the first-day-of-issue ceremony May 25.

The site also has “Star Wars�-related games and a sweepstakes. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for four to Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles.

The complete news release can be found here.

* * *
Information about the rate-change stamps, including pictures of most of them, can be found here

Briefly, here are the details:

May 6: 41-cent American Flag 2007 coils.

May 12: 26-cent Florida Panther (post card price).

May 12: 41-cent Horses stamped envelope.

May 12: 26-cent Pineapple postal card.

May 29: 17-cent Big Horn Sheep stamp (2nd ounce price).

June 1: 90-cent Hagatna Bay, Territory of Guam (international price) commemorative (Scenic American Landscapes series)

June 1: 69-cent Okefenokee Swamp (Canada/Mexico price) commemorative (Scenic American Landscapes series)

June 13: 58-cent Margaret Chase Smith stamp (first-class 2-ounce rate) (Distinguished Americans series)

June 13: $4.60 Air Force One (Priority Mail) stamp.

June 13: $16.25 Marine One (Express Mail) stamp.

June 13: 75-cent Harriet Beecher Stowe stamps (3rd ounce price) (Distinguished Americans series).

Aug. 10: 10 41-cent Beautiful Blooms definitives (coneflower, dahlia, chrysanthemum, gerbera daisy, tulip, and iris. poppy, water lily, magnolia bloom and one more not named in the release)

Aug. 17: 41-cent “Celebrate!� special stamp.

Posted by jweigle at 9:58 PM

---