Value: 66¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: May 4, 2021
First Day City: Nicasio, California
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Flexographic
Format: Panes of 20
Stamp Purpose: The USPS issued the stamps to commemorate the robot-like characters, known as droids, from the Star Wars franchise. Additionally, the stamps signify Disney and Lucasfilm’s support for STEM learning, “Star Wars: Force for Change,” and the nonprofit organization “FIRST” (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
Design: Each stamp, designed by Greg Breeding, features a different droid in front of a background symbolizing a crucial moment from their Star Wars storyline.
First Day City: The virtual First Day of Issue Ceremony occurred on May 4th, celebrated as “May the 4th Be With You” by Star Wars fans. The First Day of Issue Postmark came from Nicasio, California, home to Skywalker Ranch, owned by George Lucas, the founder of Lucasfilm.
History the Stamps Represent: In 2021, the USPS released 10 new Forever stamps depicting Star Wars droids, honoring their positive influence. Star Wars, showcasing the exciting side of STEM, inspires many fans to pursue STEM education.
Star Wars Droids: Countless droids in the Star Wars universe play essential roles, whether on the side of heroes or villains. The 2021 set of 10 stamps features famous and more obscure droids, such as IG-11, R2-D2, K-2SO, D-O, L3-37, BB-8, C-3PO, GNK (or GONK), 2-1B, and C-1-10P (“Chopper”).
STEM Exploration: While STEM has a way to go before real-life droids like those in Star Wars, enthusiasts across the US recreate these droids in homes or workshops. Although mainly decorative or remote-controlled, the hobby holds potential for future discoveries.
