Mail the Force Be With You

The US Postal Service is releasing a set of 15 commemorative Star Wars stamps in May of this year. People will then get to vote on their favorite stamp which will be reissued as a single stamp in late summer or early fall to correspond to when the rates are expected to be hiked to $0.41. I'm personally rooting for Anakin fighting Obi-wan or possibly Darth Maul - the obvious choice. If Amidala wins I'll go on a hunger strike - stamps should not be determined by 8 year olds.

Star Wars (as a stamp concept) had apparently come up previously according to an interview conducted by the AP when the Postal Service issued its 'Celebrate the Century' stamp series, however the idea was revived by the advisory committee for the 30th anniversary of Star Wars.

The 15 stamps will be issued on a single sheet that resembles a movie poster. Once the stamps are available, people can go to www.uspsjedimaster.com and vote for their favorite.

The 15 stamps include:

• Darth Vader
• Yoda
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Han Solo and Chewbacca
• Anakin Skywalker fighting Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Queen Padme Amidala
• Luke Skywalker
• Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2
• Emperor Palpatine
• Darth Maul
• Imperial Stormtroopers
• Boba Fett
• The Millennium Falcon
• An X-wing fighter
• C-3PO

As an added bonus, beginning April 6th, there will also be available (for a limited time) Star Wars Express Mail pre-paid 3-packs. The factory sealed, Star Wars-branded packaging features portraits of young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Darth Vader. Customers can begin pre-ordering online on Friday, April 6 and the packaging will be available to ship on Sunday, May 6, through Saturday, September 1. It was not stated whether there will be a premium price for the packaging.

For more information please visit the U.S. Postal Service at www.usps.com