Stamp Services

Stamp Announcement 21-11: Star Wars Droids Stamps

FDOI

On May 4, 2021, in Nicasio, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Star Wars Droids stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 577600). These stamps will go on sale nationwide May 4, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Star Wars Droids commemorative pane of 20 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With 10 dazzling new stamps, the Postal Service salutes Star Wars Droids and the imagination that brings these helpful, technological marvels to the screen. Representing more than four decades of innovation and storytelling, the droids featured are:

n IG-11,

n R2-D2,

n K-2SO,

n D-O,

n L3-37,

n BB-8,

n C-3PO,

n Gonk Droid,

n 2-1B Droid, and

n Chopper.

The characters are shown against backgrounds representing settings of memorable adventures. The selvage features a passageway in the floating Cloud City, introduced in Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back. Greg Breeding was the designer of the stamps and pane. William Gicker was the art director.

Item 577600, Star Wars Droids (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative PSA Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution will be available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps on the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices must also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.

Special Dedication Postmarks

Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for Star Wars Droids stamps. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station. Use of any image other than the following special pictorial image is prohibited.

Guidelines for Finalizing Star Wars Droids Stamps Pictorial Postmark Art

special Postmark

special Postmark

To finalize the Star Wars Droids stamps pictorial postmark art, insert the date, city, state, and ZIP Code™ of the physical location of your event adjacent to the stamp image. Overall dimensions of the pictorial postmark must not exceed 4 inches (horizontally) by 2 inches (vertically). Collectors prefer the dimensions 3-1/2 inches by 1 inch.

The Postal Service™ must make all special postmarks known to collectors through advance publicity in the Postal Bulletin. Therefore, all special dedication cancellations must be reported to Stamp Services 4 weeks before the event using PS Form 413, Pictorial Postmark Announcement/ Report. To get a copy of the form, go to blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/ps413.pdf.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Star Wars Droids Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by September 4, 2021.

How to Order First-Day Covers

The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the USA Philatelic catalog and online at usps.com/shop. Customers may register to receive a free USA Philatelic catalog online at usps.com/philatelic.

Locally produced items are not authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.

 

Issue:

Star Wars Droids Stamps

Item Number:

577600

Denomination &
Type of Issue:

First-Class Mail Forever

Format:

Pane of 20 (10 designs)

Series:

N/A

Issue Date & City:

May 4, 2021, Nicasio, CA 94946

Art Director:

William Gicker, Washington, DC

Designer:

Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA

Modeler:

Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn

Manufacturing Process:

Offset, Flexographic

Printer:

Banknote Corporation of America

Press Type:

Gallus RCS

Stamps per Pane:

20

Print Quantity:

60,000,000 stamps

Paper Type:

Phosphor, Block Tag

Adhesive Type:

Pressure-sensitive

Colors:

Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, PMS Cool Gray 7C

Stamp Orientation:

Vertical

Image Area 1 (w x h):

0.84 x 1.7102 in./ 21.336 x 43.439 mm

Stamp Size 1 (w x h):

0.98 x 1.8502 in./ 24.892 x 46.995 mm

Image Area 2 (w x h):

0.84 x 1.2747 in./ 21.336 x 32.377 mm

Stamp Size 2 (w x h):

0.98 x 1.414 in./ 24.892 x 35.915 mm

Full Pane Size (w x h):

6.45 x 8.87 in./163.83 x 225.298 mm

Plate Size:

80 stamps per revolution

Plate Numbers:

“B” followed by five (5) single digits in bottom two corners

Marginal Markings:

Front:

Header: Star Wars™ Droids • Plate number in bottom two corners

Back:

Star Wars elements: © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. • ©2021 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (577600) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text