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The first characters fans meet in the first “Star Wars” film, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” are droids — namely C-3PO and R2-D2 — and droids have continued to play pivotal roles throughout the “Star Wars” galaxy.With 10 dazzling new character-inspired stamps, the Postal Service salutes beloved droids from the “Star Wars” galaxy and the imagination that brings these technological marvels to the screen.Representing more than four decades of innovation and storytelling, the droids featured in this pane …

About 250th Anniversary Birth Of Ludwig Van Beethoven 1770-2020Ludwig van Beethoven is acknowledged as one of the world's renowned pioneers in classical music of the 18th and 19th Century. Beethoven was born in December 1770 in the city of Bonn in Germany. At a very young age he was taught music by his father, where he soon showed talent.At just ten years of age he withdrew from school and started studying music full time. His music tutor was Christian Gottlob Neefe, who at the time had just bee …

Sometimes when I talk to other stamp dealers, they mournfully tell me their business is "in the toilet."  No new collectors, few serious buyers, no shows or travel during the pandemic, etc. Well, now not only can new issue dealers refer to their business in bathroom terms, but  Austria has given them the opportunity to sell an actually semi-postal stamp sheet made from toilet paper!Austria's 2020  innovative stamp is unique for the material used in production: in an ironic allusio …

The small independent monarchy of Monaco is renown for many large international events. Celebrated on stamps are its dog and cat shows, car races, art festivals, stamp and coin shows, but even of greater notoriety are its stamps celebrating circuses and circus performers.The International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo is an annual festival established in 1974 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco to recognize and promote outstanding circus performers .  During the festival, circus …

From the very early issues of US stamps at the beginning of the 20th Century, American art has played a central role in the themes and design of commemorative stamps.  Early classics such as Whistler's Mother to more contemporary art such as Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Can,  have provided a unique perspective on the arts and culture in America.Earlier stamps usually featured just one example of an artist's work, but more recently, multi-value stamp sheets have provided a broader view …