I have never watched “Star Wars” movies because nobody was able to explain to me why I should watch them. Everyone talks in superlatives about this media franchise – it’s all in the limits of “great” and “awesome”, but that gives me little encouragement to watch the movies. I do know that “Star Wars” ranks second in the top of largest of highest-grossing media franchises, and I do know that it all started in 1977 with the first movie. Which was then dubbed the sixth movie. And I do know that this is science fiction as genre goes, however the action happens “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away“.
Even if I am immune to the charms of the “Star Wars” universe, I am not immune to stamps. The popularity gained by “Star Wars” is quite visible in the realm of philately. You will find below a fine selection of Star Wars-themed stamps.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
What we have here is an early example of Star Wars themed stamps. Quite difficult to secure in one’s collection, they were issued in 1996 (but marked 1995) to “commemorate the Star Wars trilogy”. It’s unclear for me what exactly is commemorated, since 1996 is one year short of the 20th anniversary of the first movie.
Pictured above the three stamp series of self-adhesive stamps of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The United States of America
The USA released some fine-looking stamps devoted to the Star Wars universe in 2007, for the 30th anniversary of the first movie.
Pictured above, the 2007 USA Yoda stamp.
Pictured above, the front and back of the 2007 USA stamp sheet devoted to Star Wars. It represents characters and ships such as: Darth Vader, the Millennium Falcon, Emperor Palpatine, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and R2D2, C-3PO, Queen Padme Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, Darth Maul, Han Solo & Chewbacca, X-wing starfighter, Yoda, and the Stormtroopers.
Great Britain
Great Britain issued Star Wars themed stamps on two occasions, in 2015 and in 2017.
Pictured above, the 2015 series of UK Star Wars themed stamps. Top row, left to right: Princess Leia, the Emperor, Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, Finn, Kylo Ren. Bottom row, left to right: Darth Vader, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Stormtrooper, Han Solo, and Rey.
The 2015 series was accompanied by a minisheet depicting various spaceships: the X-wing Starfighter, Fighters, At-At walkers and the Millennium Falcon.
Pictured above the 2017 Star Wars themed stamps issued by the Royal Post for the 40th anniversary of Star Wars movies. Top row, left to right: Maz Kanata, Chewbacca, Supreme Leader Snoke, and Prog. Bottom row, left to right: BB-8, R2D2, C-3PO, and K2SO.
Spain
2017 was a good year for Star Wars themed stamps. Next to Great Britain, Spain and Portugal also issued Star Wars themed stamps. Let’s look first at this beautiful 3D sheet from Spain.
The sheet actually includes only one stamp (a high nominal of 5€ featuring Darth Vader) with 5 vignettes: a Stormtrooper, Chewbacca, R2D2, Yoda, and C-3PO.
Portugal
Portugal also issued in 2017 a series of Star Wars themed stamps.
Pictured above, top row left to right: Han Solo, Yoda, and Darth Vader. Bottom row, left to right: Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia.
Stamps featured in post: 54; Period: contemporary (1996-2017); Pricing: low and moderate; Availability: generally available, with the exception of complete US sheets and Spain minisheets – the latter being issued in a small printrun.