©2021 USPS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
|
— Stamp Services, Marketing, 3-25-21
