As expected, the US Postal Service has announced new Star Wars stamps. This pane is being offered in celebration of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary this year.

But what is interesting is that for only the second time in USPS history, they are giving the public the opportunity to choose a favorite, although it is unclear what this means. The winner is to be issued as a stamp, perhaps in its own sheet. But presumably the entire pane will still be issued. Or maybe not…

From a letter from the USPS mailed to those who signed up for more information from www.uspsjedimaster.com:

Which one of these 15 iconic stamps will be issued on its own stamp sheet? The power is in your hands. Vote today!

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May the Force be with you.

From the USPS press release:

Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Darth Vader and, of course, R2-D2 are among the unforgettable Star Wars characters debuting on 15 new 41-cent postage stamps unveiled today at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, where the first Star Wars movie opened nearly 30 years ago.

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The commemorative stamps feature images from all six movies in the Star Wars saga: 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 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.

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“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, 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,” said Failor, who made the announcement of the new Star Wars stamps along with R2-D2, Darth Vader and Howard Roffman, president of Lucas Licensing.

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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. This exciting collaboration brings many opportunities to involve stamp collectors and Star Wars fans of all ages.

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America Votes on Favorite Star Wars Stamp

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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.

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Voting for the most popular Star Wars stamp will take place online at www.uspsjedimaster.com beginning today, March 28, through May 23. The winning stamp will be announced at the first-day-of-issue ceremony on May 25.

Click here to see the vote tally.

The Ice Planet Hoth (Finse, Norway), originally uploaded by commasplice

I’ve been told by a reliable source that although the ice planet Hoth was filmed in Finse, Norway, the crew actually stayed at a hotel across the border in nearby Sweden, during the making of “The Empire Strikes Back”.