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Star Wars Prequels Media Movies

USPS Announces Star Wars Stamp Set 153

Posted by CowboyNeal from the using-the-force dept.
morpheus83 writes "After R2D2 letter boxes, the USPS continues the saga, as it unveiled 15 new stamps featuring Star Wars characters at Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood where the original Star Wars movie opened 30 years ago. The 41 cent stamps will be released on May 25, and all the 15 stamps will be issued on a single sheet resembling a movie poster."
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USPS Announces Star Wars Stamp Set More

USPS Announces Star Wars Stamp Set

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  • huh? (Score:5, Funny)

    by mastershake_phd ( 1050150 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:12PM (#18536853) Homepage
    They never even built Reagan's space weapons, how can they put them on a stamp?
    • ... and the USPS made a comemorative stamp set about them. However the MIB raided USPS warehouses and took everything away.

      I was told this by a USPS worker, but he started getting a bit cranky so I walked away...

    • Reason: Money (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      The United States Postal Service (USPS) is just trying to get some cash from saps -- like the saps who will buy these Star Wars stamps. The USPS knows that nostalgia has a price tag. Moreover, the USPS is encountering some revenue problems. So, this stamp fixes the revenue problem.

      I just bought a whole box of these stamps. So, I suppose that I am the biggest sap of all.

      "Be a jedi or be not a jedi. There is no sap!" exclaims Yoda.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by SkyDude ( 919251 )

      They never even built Reagan's space weapons, how can they put them on a stamp?

      That's what they wanted you to think.

  • Inquiring minds want to know... (Score:5, Funny)

    by bluemonq ( 812827 ) * on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:13PM (#18536859)
    ...will Han be printed first?

    • Re:Inquiring minds want to know... (Score:4, Funny)

      by WwWonka ( 545303 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @08:01PM (#18537389)
      well, the US Postal service has thought of that.

      In the 1st series, yes, Han will be printed first.
      In the 2nd series Han is printed second, but only after George Lucas is found dead from licking too many 1st edition Princess Lea in a metal bikini stamps, thus making it the most popular stamp in the series.
      The 3rd series won't really be stamps, but CGI representations that don't quite live up to the first series of stamps.

  • Star wars stamps... (Score:5, Funny)

    by physicsboy500 ( 645835 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:16PM (#18536891)
    Made specifically when you're mailing to a C3POBox.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by nurb432 ( 527695 )
      Dont laugh too hard, we have a R2D2 Box downtown.
      • Are you in Lexington KY? Probably not, but thought I'd ask.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Cef ( 28324 )
        "Downtown" doesn't really give much indication of where. Especially for those of us not in the states. :P

        As an aside, I'm guessing that people in Boston would have never seen one of these post boxes, except mebbe as pieces of exploding shrapnel.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by nurb432 ( 527695 )
          Well, there are reasons im not too specific in my location..

          But ill tell you that its the 'midwest'...

  • Still unsatisfied (Score:5, Funny)

    by EvilGoodGuy ( 811015 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:16PM (#18536897)
    I'm still waiting for the Leia and Amidala playboy special.
    • Leia, half-naked!
      Natalie Portman!
      Han Solo petrified!

      I'm sure someone else can fit "Hot Grits" into there somewhere.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by aztektum ( 170569 )
      I can see Amidala, but unless you got yourself a time machine, I'm thinkin' a "Carrie Fisher" Leia spread today would probably be the only issue were guys really do "only read the articles".

  • Don't want 'em (Score:5, Funny)

    by L. VeGas ( 580015 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:17PM (#18536917) Homepage Journal
    These aren't the droid stamps we're looking for.

  • Stamp Images (Score:5, Informative)

    by cmcguffin ( 156798 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:18PM (#18536937)
    Here's a link to images of the stamps [uspsjedimaster.com] themselves.
    • One of the most talked about characters in the Star Wars Saga even above Darth Maul!

      Yeah this probably relagates it to a troll post, but I could not resist typing the subject line.

      Though I would have prioritized the super star destroyer far ahead of Darth Maul, and maybe do a montage with anakins/vader instead of just the vader mask. :-)
    • I'm using Lynx, you insensitive clod!
    • Wait, why are all of them 41 cent stamps? Are we in for yet another stamp rate increase, or do we already pay 41 cents a stamp (I thought it was 39)? I guess they needed another couple of cents per stamp to pay the licensing fees to get Star Wars characters on their stamps...

  • Lucas did it. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by _Sprocket_ ( 42527 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:19PM (#18536947)
    Just further proof that Star Wars is, in fact, dead.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Trogre ( 513942 )
      A collection of Beatles stamps was recently released. Are the Beatles dead, too?

      Oh. Never mind.

    • Re:Lucas did it. (Score:5, Funny)

      by dave420 ( 699308 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @10:40PM (#18538685)
      Seriously! The 1977 cinematic release had no merchandising tie-ins at all, now he goes and does this. Sell-out!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by SeaFox ( 739806 )

      Just further proof that Star Wars is, in fact, dead.

      Nonsense! Elvis was put on a stamp after all.
    • Lucas may have abused the series in the minds of some people but its a feat bound to never be replicated, at least anytime soon. Still he brought forward an epic dream and who is to say he can't revise parts of it. I have read books that have later versions (some were considered classics) that had revisions or additions.

      and he just isn't Star Wars...

      being on USPS stamps only goes to show he is forever part of our culture

  • Missed opportunity (Score:5, Funny)

    by jolyonr ( 560227 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:23PM (#18536991) Homepage
    Why on earth couldn't they have launched them on May 4th.

    Jolyon
  • and look forward to sticking it on postcards to the White House.
    • Unfortunately, these stamps will come too late for use on your April 15 income tax return. Perhaps if you've filed for an extension, however...

  • These aren't the stamps you're looking for... (Score:4, Funny)

    by glomph ( 2644 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:25PM (#18537025) Homepage Journal
    It's a trap!!!

  • I wonder if this has deeper significance? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Dzimas ( 547818 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:28PM (#18537047)
    I was discussing the Star Wars post boxes with someone a few days ago. We both think they're extremely clever, but they're also a rather strange bit of corporate advertising by the United States Postal Service. It didn't take long before one of us wondered if this is yet another sign that things have slipped a bit too far in favor of the service sector as far as the US economy goes. After all, the post office really doesn't have any reason to promote a film franchise (yes, I know it's an anniversary celebration and all... but it still leaves a strange taste in my mouth)

    • No reason? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by StefanJ ( 88986 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:31PM (#18537071) Homepage Journal
      These are stamps that people will buy and never use.

      It's a money making venture.

      Last year, the P.O. introduced a line of famous scietist stamps. Here and gone in a month or so. I was really hoping to get a booklet of Buckminster Fuller stamps.

      I guess I'll have to settle for the Lobot.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by mstahl ( 701501 )

        Absolutely. Ever wonder why dollar coins are perpetually in short supply? It's because the U.S. government effectively makes money when people hoard them and thus take them out of circulation. Same deal with the quarters with the states on them. People started collecting them, and for each person with a full set, that was $12.50 the treasury department was no longer responsible for in a way.

        The Post Office can pull the same trick with people who collect stamps. It's in their best interest to offer up stamp

        • Re:No reason? (Score:4, Insightful)

          by shark72 ( 702619 ) on Friday March 30, 2007 @01:48AM (#18539971)

          "It's because the U.S. government effectively makes money when people hoard them and thus take them out of circulation."

          Interesting; the government typically wants us to spend money. If you spend that Sacajawea you get from the stamp machine rather than hiding it away, you'll likely pay sales tax on the item you buy with it, and the person you buy it from will pay income tax on the sale. Various governments might get up to half of that buck back.

          On a macro level, when people stop circulating money, the economy slows down. I don't see how encouraging people to hoard dollar coins would be beneficial to the government.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by mstahl ( 701501 )

            I don't see how encouraging people to hoard dollar coins would be beneficial to the government.

            That's why it's not done too much. You mention sales tax and income tax, but by getting you to just not spend that dollar coin, if you never spend it ever, the government has effectively earned back the whole dollar. They would, as you said, only get about half of it otherwise. Meanwhile people are spending their paper money just fine. Nobody out there is hoarding Benjamins, so I think the economy is probably goi

      • I'll need to get a sheet, of course, but I'm definitely going to need to have at least a hundred Darth Vader stamps for use as well. I don't even write that many letters.
      • Sometime in April, they are also releasing three limited edition pre-paid Priority Mail envelopes with Star Wars characters upon them. How many countless $3 envelopes will go unsent?

        Many.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dennism ( 13667 )
      Another interesting bit -- since when did the USPS start allowing images of people that were still alive on stamps? It's quite obvious that it's Harrison Ford by looking at the stamp. Last I checked, he's still alive.
      • That's not Harrison Ford, that's Han Solo, and this all happened a long time ago. They're all dead.

        I think they died when the Special Editions came out. I know a little part of me did...
      • They've done it many times, as far back as 1967 (Edward White, the first American spacewalk) and as recently as the 9/11 stamp with the three NYC firemen. The idea is that they don't want to honor living individuals. People who are still alive will sometimes appear when the event is what's important and the individual is secondary.
        • Ha ha... in Britain they really *do* get fussed about the living individuals rule (except for Her Majesty). There was apparently some fuss when a stamp was made commemorating Freddie Mercury [wikipedia.org] of Queen (the band), and their drummer Roger Taylor [wikipedia.org] (not dead) appeared in the background, even though he wasn't the main subject.

          On the other hand maybe you could fiddle that case by saying he was a member of "the" Queen. Erm... then again, maybe not.
    • But I'd be interested to find out who is funding this. 100% of the production cost, distribution, etc. should be borne by Lucas.

      Is this why stamps go up in price? To keep the marketing budget in line?

      I can't get a box from Omaha to Denver in under two weeks by USPS, but they sure have purty stamps.

      They're a monopoly, and should not be allowed to advertise at all. No commercials, no ads, fund from the stamps and add some value.

      • Re:I haven't done any research on it... (Score:5, Informative)

        by SkyDude ( 919251 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @09:18PM (#18538015)

        But I'd be interested to find out who is funding this. 100% of the production cost, distribution, etc. should be borne by Lucas.

        The USPS is paying for the entire promo, because the USPS is a business, not a government agency. It's been a business for a number of years. It's just not the typical private sector business.

        Having been involved in the logistics field for a number of years, I know from personal experience that the USPS marketing department has one of the biggest budgets in the transportation industry. When I attended various trade conferences, the biggest and best parties (or receptions as they are often called) were always sponsored by the USPS. And there were often some real nice giveaways too - windbreaker jackets, top notch dinners and other really nice amenities. They do it because they are big and generate lots of money.

        They're a monopoly, and should not be allowed to advertise at all. No commercials, no ads, fund from the stamps and add some value.
        Well, no they're not. Years ago, sending an overnight letter via Fedex or UPS required the mailer to add first class postage, even though the Postal Service would never touch the thing. That was a ruling by the Supreme Court, if memory serves, due to the Constitutional beginnings of the Post Office. The requirement was done away with years ago, the Post Office became The US Postal Service and they are mandated to be profitable. And they are.

        As someone who regularly shipped thousands of parcels via the USPS each month, if you believe it takes two weeks to go from Omaha to Denver, then you haven't mailed a parcel in a long time. The Postal Service is competitive with UPS and Fedex in nearly every category. The pay scales are competitive with the private companies and they don't charge as much, because they have what the private companies don't have - volume. UPS, Fedex and DHL can only wish they handled as many parcels and letters as the USPS.

        • But they still hold a monopoly on regular service. I can't hire UPS to come to my house every day, pick up outgoing mail from my mailbox, and deliver mail to my mailbox. I can't even unsubscribe from the USPS.

          • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

            by SkyDude ( 919251 )
            No, not true. You open an account with UPS, pay for your shipments with a credit card and they will come to your house and pick up anything you care to ship. Minimum cost for letters is now around $18 for a letter not exceeding 8 oz.
            Of course, it makes no economic sense, so no one will send you your mail that way either. It makes sense to use the USPS for lightweight first class mail. But, there is a choice. It's just not a realistic one.

            You may be surprised to learn that Fedex, UPS and DHL all have arran

            • But if I have a mailbox on my front lawn, it's a federal law that only the postal service (and myself) can open it. UPS/FedEx/DHL can't use the Postal Service business model of "put a stamp on an envelope and we'll pick it up" because they don't have the legal right to put mail in anyone's mailbox, or take it out for that matter.

      • Re:I haven't done any research on it... (Score:4, Interesting)

        by TooMuchToDo ( 882796 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @10:36PM (#18538643)
        1) They're not a monopoly (Fedex, UPS, DHL, without even bringing up freight carriers)

        2) They operate in the black (and work hard to do so)

        3) I've gotten boxes cross-country with USPS in 4 days

        I mean, seriously, how can you complain about the postal service? I can get a letter across the country for the price of a candy bar. I can get a light envelope to the most remote parts of the world for the price of a gallon of gas or two.

        Lets face it, the price of stamps goes up to deal with the cost of running a distribution network that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (you don't get mail on Sunday, but they're moving and processing it).

        Quit whinning.

    • So which came first... the stamp collector or the collectible stamps? I think by the way they're laid out it's pretty obvious these stamps aren't really for mail letters. When was the last time you went to the P.O. and got a book of stamps that came as part of a larger image? The U.S.P.S. has been making stamps for collecting for some time now. I don't think it's the U.S.P.S. promoting a film franchise, but rather using a film franchise to promote postage. I mean, in this day an age with instant messag
    • I think that Star Wars has become something of a cultural icon and certainly more than just a brand. Now, the Home Hardware stamps [stanleygibbons.com] offered by Canada Post a few years ago - that felt like blatant advertising to me.
    • Lovely. We've become a third-world banana republic, printing irrelevancies on our stamps to raise funds by selling them to collectors. This used to be the province of places such as Trinidad and Tabago or Bora Bora. My mailbox is so full of subsidized corporate junk that I can barely find the bills, while my mail-carrier won't deliver in winter unless I shovel the snow around the mailbox in a federally-approved fashion as otherwise they'd have to get out of their golf-carts. The entire purpose of the po

  • too bad there aren't any quotes on the stamps (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Tumbleweed ( 3706 ) * on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:29PM (#18537055)
    Han's should read, "It's not my fault!"

    Luke's, "I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"

    Leia, "Will somebody get this walking carpet out of my way?!"

    Chewie, "Mraaaawwwwrrrr!"

    Vader, "I find your lack of faith ... disturbing."

    Obi-Wan, "We'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements."

    R2D2, *beep* *beep* *whistle* *beep* *splat*

    C3PO, "I didn't know I had it in me."

    For the Falcon, just the tagline: The fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by zanybrainy941 ( 972076 )
      Vader: "I am altering your First Class postage rate. Pray I don't alter it further."
  • "15 new stamps featuring Star Wars characters at Grauman's Chinese theater" - you mean this Chewbacca at Grauman's Chinese theater [defamer.com]? he gets a stamp?

  • Finally! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Average_Joe_Sixpack ( 534373 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:34PM (#18537103)
    A legitimate reason to lick Princess Leia

    • Re: (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      You mean we need a reason? Too bad we'll be licking the non printed side this time.

      • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

        by ari_j ( 90255 )
        You mean there's a side of Princess Leia you don't want to lick? Hand over your geek card right now, imposter!
    • Don't forget her mom [uspsjedimaster.com].

    • Re:Finally! (Score:4, Insightful)

      by glwtta ( 532858 ) on Friday March 30, 2007 @02:13AM (#18540075) Homepage
      The reason has always been there, it's opportunity that's been sadly lacking.

    • A legitimate reason to lick Princess Leia

      If you're interested in pursuing this thoroughly unsavory (and pleasant) line of thought, China has already released stamps [slashfood.com] that not only smell like sweet-and-sour pork on the front, but actually *taste* like it on the back.

      Since this is Slashdot, and we're discussing Star Wars, I think the USPS should do one of those with Natalie Portman, naked and... actually, naked is enough. And since they'd need to know what Natalie Portman (*cough*) tastes like, I'm willing to volunteer my services.

      • And since they'd need to know what Natalie Portman (*cough*) tastes like, I'm willing to volunteer my services.

        Grits dude! I thought everyone knew that

  • Darth Maul!?! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by coug_ ( 63333 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:35PM (#18537113) Homepage
    Okay, so... there's a Darth Maul stamp, but no Lando Calrissian stamp? How about a Jabba the Hut stamp? He certainly played a much bigger role in the series than Darth Maul did. Darth Maul, as cool as he may have looked, was almost completely insignificant to the story.

  • Actors Are Still Alive (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Bender0x7D1 ( 536254 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:38PM (#18537147)

    I thought there was a rule that no living person could be on a stamp, so how can there be characters on the stamps when the actors are still alive? I found this site [govspot.com] that seems to agree with the "no living person" rule, but it isn't an official USPS site. Has this rule been changed or is it OK since they are fictional characters?

    • Re:Actors Are Still Alive (Score:5, Funny)

      by tm2b ( 42473 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @08:18PM (#18537561) Journal
      Who is it that you think is still living, Luke Skywalker or Leia Organa?

      I know Slashdot readers often have a hard time telling the difference, but try to stay with us here. These are characters, not people.

      • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Umm, the poster very clearly referred to the actors still being alive. Maybe you should head back to grade school and work on your reading compression skills.

        But anyway, these stamps also appear to break rule #6 at http://www.usps.com/communications/organization/cs ac.htm [usps.com] -- "Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products".
    • Sure, they're alive now...but do not underestimate the power of the Post.

    • I thought there was a rule that no living person could be on a stamp, so how can there be characters on the stamps when the actors are still alive? I found this site that seems to agree with the "no living person" rule, but it isn't an official USPS site. Has this rule been changed or is it OK since they are fictional characters?

      I believe that rule is true. I'd say that they get around that by the fact that the stamps aren't photos or screenshots, but rather drawings. Now they look nearly identical to th

    • You can make custom USPS stamps at http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stamps [zazzle.com] and they don't say anything about those limitations.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Tablizer ( 95088 )
      I thought there was a rule that no living person could be on a stamp

            but they
                died a long
                      long time ago on a
                              Galaxy Far Far Away
           
    • No stamps "commemorating living people". However, living people can appear in stamps that are commemorating other events (such as movies).

      Actually, the rule these days is probably "whatever sells".

  • And he said.... (Score:3, Funny)

    by fishthegeek ( 943099 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @07:46PM (#18537231) Journal
    Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood... you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

  • COLLECTOR'S ALERT (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Apparently, there is a very valuable sheet of misprinted upside down x-wing stamps out there.
  • Putting Chewbacca stamp on letter +

    Tripping and falling on letter +

    Realizing the letter (including stamp) has been crumpled

    = "I bent my wookie."

  • I've got you now!

  • First to say? (Score:3, Funny)

    by fire-eyes ( 522894 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @08:00PM (#18537365) Homepage
    I hope I'm the first to say... That I'm happy that I can finally lick a wookie.

  • Maybe this would explain why the post office in Royal Oak MI has painted their blue mailboxes to look like R2D2.

    R2D2 Mailbox [imageshack.us]
  • and so will buy a sheet for novelty.

    I will also buy several sheet to use to send postcards to some SW fanatics I know. Heh, using the stamp will drive them bonkers.

  • Death Star? (Score:5, Funny)

    by ruiner13 ( 527499 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @08:19PM (#18537567) Homepage
    Why no Death Star stamp? I want to put a Death Star on all my bill payments. Something rather poetic, I think.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Why no Death Star stamp? I want to put a Death Star on all my bill payments. Something rather poetic, I think.

      You can't do that. It's already a registered trademark of AT&T!

  • I want one of the Artoo mailboxes!

  • Learn something new every day. (Score:4, Informative)

    by artifex2004 ( 766107 ) on Thursday March 29, 2007 @09:15PM (#18537989) Journal
    On the dot, today, I learned that rates are going up [usps.com] for mail.

  • Boba Fett (Score:3, Insightful)

    by The One and Only ( 691315 ) <[ten.hclewlihp] [ta] [lihp]> on Thursday March 29, 2007 @09:20PM (#18538033) Homepage
    There's a Boba Fett stamp. What is it with you people and Boba Fett? He's the most popular minor character EVER.
    • I've wondered about that myself. My theory is that the full-face helmet allows you to project any character you like onto Boba Fett, if you're so inclined. He's the ultimate Rorschach character. People like him because they get to create him themselves.

      Just a theory -- I'm still mystified by it myself.
  • Ahah! Modern postism!

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