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USPS Announces Star Wars Stamp Set

Posted by CowboyNeal on 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."

46 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. huh? by mastershake_phd · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
  2. Inquiring minds want to know... by bluemonq · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...will Han be printed first?

    1. Re:Inquiring minds want to know... by WwWonka · · Score: 4, Funny

      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.

  3. They did! by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... 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...

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:They did! by HTTP+Error+403+403.9 · · Score: 3, Funny
      I'm going to wait for the "Galaxy Quest" stamps to be released.


      "By Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Worvan, you shall be mailed."

      --
      I'm not a Troll, it's reverse psychology.
    2. Re:They did! by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 4, Funny

      And I await the Farscape stamps. However, I suspect they will have to wait for a country like the Bahamas to release them.

      Is George Lucas going to want to revise all these stamps in ten years? Will Stamp Album publishers have to get separate licenses with him to publish the album page with the Star Wars stamps on it?

  4. Star wars stamps... by physicsboy500 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Made specifically when you're mailing to a C3POBox.

    --
    The original generic sig.
  5. Still unsatisfied by EvilGoodGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still waiting for the Leia and Amidala playboy special.

    1. Re:Still unsatisfied by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'll just include Mae Ling Mak, to be historically correct. Skip the revisionist Portman reference.

    2. Re:Still unsatisfied by bigdavex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You haven't seen her lately, have you?

      When 50 years old you be, look as good you will not.
      --
      -Dave
  6. Don't want 'em by L.+VeGas · · Score: 4, Funny

    These aren't the droid stamps we're looking for.

    --
    Best Windows Freeware
  7. Stamp Images by cmcguffin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a link to images of the stamps themselves.

  8. Lucas did it. by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

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

    1. Re:Lucas did it. by dave420 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Seriously! The 1977 cinematic release had no merchandising tie-ins at all, now he goes and does this. Sell-out!

  9. Missed opportunity by jolyonr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why on earth couldn't they have launched them on May 4th.

    Jolyon

    --


    Please read my Canon EOS tech blog at http://www.everyothershot.com
    1. Re:Missed opportunity by psaunders · · Score: 5, Funny
      You mean, so millions of geeky fans could send Star Wars stamp-affixed postcards that read "May the 4th be with you"?

      You're right. What a waste.

      --
      Karma police, arrest this man. He talks in math. He buzzes like a fridge. He's like a detuned radio.
  10. I for one welcome our Jar-Jar Binks postage by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2, Funny

    and look forward to sticking it on postcards to the White House.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  11. Reason: Money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting
    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.

  12. These aren't the stamps you're looking for... by glomph · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's a trap!!!

  13. I wonder if this has deeper significance? by Dzimas · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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)

  14. too bad there aren't any quotes on the stamps by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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!

    1. Re:too bad there aren't any quotes on the stamps by zanybrainy941 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Vader: "I am altering your First Class postage rate. Pray I don't alter it further."

  15. No reason? by StefanJ · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:No reason? by mstahl · · Score: 3, Informative

      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 stamps that people will want to acquire and keep.

    2. Re:No reason? by shark72 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "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.

      --
      Sitting in my day care, the art is decopainted.
  16. I haven't done any research on it... by attemptedgoalie · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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.

    --
    My mom says I'm cool.
    1. Re:I haven't done any research on it... by SkyDude · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

      --
      == First cross river, then insult alligator.
    2. Re:I haven't done any research on it... by TooMuchToDo · · Score: 3, Interesting
      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.

    3. Re:I haven't done any research on it... by SkyDude · · Score: 3, Interesting
      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 arrangements to pick up lightweight mail parcels from businesses and deliver them to the Postal Service who ultimately delivers the parcels to residentail customers. The USPS offers a service called Parcel Select. A carrier or business that generates thousands of small parcels can participate in it. A shipper routes a quantity of small parcels via this service, and the carrier picks up the parcels and delivers them to a Postal delivery unit near the recipient's address. The USPS then sorts the parcel into the regular mail delivery. Very cost effective and further blurs the distinction between the old Post Office and private industry.

      --
      == First cross river, then insult alligator.
  17. Finally! by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 4, Funny

    A legitimate reason to lick Princess Leia

    1. Re:Finally! by ari_j · · Score: 2, Funny

      You mean there's a side of Princess Leia you don't want to lick? Hand over your geek card right now, imposter!

    2. Re:Finally! by glwtta · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The reason has always been there, it's opportunity that's been sadly lacking.

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
  18. Darth Maul!?! by coug_ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Darth Maul!?! by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Rumor has it that Jabba the Hut and StarDestroyers coming out in 5c increments so you can piece them together across the top of the letter and form it.

      PS: I just started this rumor.

      --
      God spoke to me.
  19. Actors Are Still Alive by Bender0x7D1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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?

    --
    Reading code is like reading the dictionary - you have to read half of it before you can go back and understand it.
    1. Re:Actors Are Still Alive by tm2b · · Score: 4, Funny

      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.

      --
      "It is our blasphemy which has made us great, and will sustain us, and which the gods secretly admire in us." - Zelazny
    2. Re:Actors Are Still Alive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      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 -- "Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products".

    3. Re:Actors Are Still Alive by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      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

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  20. And he said.... by fishthegeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood... you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

    --
    load "$",8,1
  21. COLLECTOR'S ALERT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Apparently, there is a very valuable sheet of misprinted upside down x-wing stamps out there.

  22. First to say? by fire-eyes · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope I'm the first to say... That I'm happy that I can finally lick a wookie.

    --
    -- Note: If you don't agree with me, don't bother replying. I won't read it.
  23. Death Star? by ruiner13 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --

    today is spelling optional day.

    1. Re:Death Star? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      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!

  24. Learn something new every day. by artifex2004 · · Score: 3, Informative

    On the dot, today, I learned that rates are going up for mail.

  25. Boba Fett by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There's a Boba Fett stamp. What is it with you people and Boba Fett? He's the most popular minor character EVER.

    --
    In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
  26. Darth Mail ! by Rastignac · · Score: 2, Funny

    Darth Maul stamp on a letter gives you a Darth Mail...

    --
    -- Rastignac was here.