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Bigger than Elvis? Post office prepares for Star Wars stamp blitz

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By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ...

Well, maybe just as far as the nearest post office.

Obi-Wan, Yoda and even Vader are featured on stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service starting on Friday. The postal service is releasing 15 different Star Wars commemorative stamps that feature images from all six movies. Approximately 30 million sheets, which each contains the 15 stamps, have been printed.

Several postmasters in the region said they've had calls from interested individuals about the stamps.

"I think, personally, with the large base of Star Wars fans out there, it might be one of the largest single interest stamp events we've ever seen," said Steve Gorka, Defiance postmaster. "There are rumors it might surpass the Elvis Presley stamp."

Gorka added that the presale of the stamps via the national postal service website have hit a record with approximately 183,000 sheets sold. Pre-orders started 30 days in advance of the general sales and are not shipped until sales begin.

As publicity heats up for the stamps, Gorka said more people may come in to get the sheets, which cost $6.15 each.

"They really are an attractive group of stamps," he said, adding that unfortunately the display and posters promoting the stamps cannot be given out afterward. "We've had customers and employees ask for any of that memorabilia including the display, but because of the licensing agreement with Lucas Films all of those materials must be destroyed at end of the display period."

Also as part of the festivities the post office put out several R2-D2 mailboxes across the nation. However, none were placed in the immediate six-county area.

Archbold postmaster Scott VanVlerah said he's also had people asking for promotional materials with the stamps, but can't give them out.

Regardless, he's had a couple dozen phone calls asking about the stamps and when they will be released. He's even expecting a few people to be waiting outside the office Friday before it opens to purchase sheets of the stamps.

"When some of the good collectible stamps come out, I get one or two (customers waiting) out there," he said. "I imagine I will have a few out there this time."

While the Payne Post Office doesn't expect people to be outside the office waiting for the stamps, postmaster Danielle Lang said she's fielded a lot of phone calls about them.

"We have a lot of people expressing interest," she said. "They want to know when they are coming out and what's on the sheet."

In Holgate, postmaster Rhonda Wenner said she hasn't had a lot of calls about the stamps, but does expect some customers to come in Friday o purchase them.

"We have a couple of families in town that have young boys that might come purchase a sheet," she said.

The 15 images on the stamps reflect both the original trilogy and the prequels.

Featured on the stamps are Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo and Chewbacca, Princess Leia with R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, Queen Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi (as seen in original trilogy), 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 were released today as part of the Star Wars Celebration IV being held in Los Angeles, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the films.

One Star Wars stamp, voted on by the public as the favorite stamp, will be announced Friday. It will be issued as a single stamp later on in addition to inclusion in the Star Wars stamp set. As of Wednesday, the postal service said it has received more than a half a million voters. The top two vote getters were Yoda and Darth Vader, with Yoda having had a slight lead earlier this week.