Stamping with the Force

The U.S. Postal Service released its highly anticipated set of “Star Wars” stamps Friday, with special celebrations taking place at several area post offices.

In addition to the stamps, fans and collectors bought special envelopes (also known as cachets) and requested special pictorial postmarks at the Veradale, Rosewood and Sunset stations.

Only the Rosewood station had the prized first-day cancellation, however.

Dennis Dickens called the release a “perfect convergence,” as he bought the special envelopes at the Rosewood post office.

“I’m a stamp fanatic and ‘Star Wars’ fanatic,” said Dickens, who first saw the movie 30 years ago, just a few weeks before he and his wife married.

When asked which was more memorable – his wedding or the movie – he paused a moment, and then answered, “The wedding. It was in the Sequoia National Forest and a bear attended.”

Lola Czahara bought several sheets of stamps for her grandsons.

“We’ve completely sold out of the cachets,” station Supervisor Steven Pagel said about 1:45 p.m.

About 50 people came in to buy the cachets, with three buying cachets with each of the 15 stamps.

“Star Wars” fans have been eagerly awaiting the stamps and voting for the past month on their favorites in an online contest.

The Yoda stamp had the Force with it, winning after the final tally.