Latest News: Characters & Interests

In 1997, a year after Hallmark introduced its first Star Wars™ related Keepsake Ornaments, Star Wars™ celebrated a milestone anniversary, the 20th Anniversary year of the original theatrical release of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope™. In response to the anniversary year, Lucas re-released the original trilogy in theaters*. This along with the impending release of the first installment of the long awaited prequel (just two years out) once again energized the Star Wars™ universe.

This set the tone for the new Keepsake Ornaments that were offered that year, including a new first in series piece. In honor of Star Wars Celebration, here is the original article about the 1997 Star Wars releases. Reprinted from Collector’s Courier: Volume Eleven, Number One.

With a major theatrical release of the (STAR WARS™) trilogy planned for this year*, STAR WARS enthusiasts are already gearing up to celebrate the 20th year of the original film.

The excitement began in 1996 with the “Millennium Falcon™” Keepsake Magic Ornament and “The Vehicles of STAR WARS” three-piece Keepsake Miniature Ornament set. This year, STAR WARS collectors and Keepsake Ornament collectors are eagerly anticipating the four STAR WARS Special Issue Ornaments that will arrive in Hallmark stores in time for the Keepsake Ornament Premiere in July.

“There’s been a very high level of anticipation among STAR WARS collectors for the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments,” says Steve Sansweet, author of three books about STAR WARS memorabilia and owner of the largest private collection of STAR WARS memorabilia in the world. “These ornaments will be highly sought after because they’re dated, and they’re only being issued one year.”

The 1997 Keepsake Ornament line features four Special Issue Ornaments based on the original STAR WARS movie. Heading the cast of favorites is “Luke Skywalker™,” the first in the STAR WARS Collector’s Series.

Luke Skywalker
1st in the Star Wars™ series

Luke’s charming sidekicks—the best known team of droids in the Rebel Alliance—are known as C-3PO™ and R2-D2™. The team is so inseparable it’s hard to imagine them as anything but a two-piece Keepsake Miniature Ornament set!

Perhaps one of the most lovable STAR WARS character, the diminutive Jedi Master “Yoda™,” is being featured as a Keepsake Ornament that complements the STAR WARS Collector’s Series.

A dramatic Keepsake Magic Ornament, “Darth Vader™” is cloaked in black and looks every bit the threat that he is to those in the Rebel Alliance. The Imperial Commander’s light saber glows continuously and, with just the press of a button, you can hear the voice of James Earl Jones from the movie saying:  “The force is with you, young Skywalker. But you are not a Jedi yet!”

Did You Know?

• The original STAR WARS movie was introduced in 1977.  A major theatrical release of the STAR WARS trilogy is planned for this year, the 20th year of the film.
• STAR WARS trilogy videos released in 1995 sold 22 million units, making it the best-selling live-action video ever.
• A new STAR WARS novel came out in 1991. It jumped to No. 1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list in its second week.

*The Star Wars Special Edition was a theatrical anniversary edition of the original trilogy, in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

The three movies were shown in USA from January through March with a monthly interval between each. A New Hope was released on January 31, 1997, followed by The Empire Strikes Back on February 21, 1997, and Return of the Jedi on March 7, 1997, but due to the box office success of the first two (mostly A New Hope which grossed the most of the three re-releases) it was pushed to a week later on March 14.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 25, 2015) — Hallmark is doubling up on excitement at this year’s Star Wars Celebration with a pair of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and a pair of the popular itty bittys® plush collectibles to be available exclusively at the fan event.

The two-packs will be sold in limited quantities each day of the event, scheduled April 16-19 at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.

An Epic Vision is the name of the Keepsake Ornament two-pack that features Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader locked in a heated lightsaber duel as inspired by the styling of famed artist Ralph McQuarrie in preproduction art for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Nearly 40 years since their creation, McQuarrie’s original visions for the Star Wars galaxy of characters, craft and planets continues to inspire and delight fans. An Epic Vision has a total production run of 2,000 and sales will be limited to 500 per day ($40 per set).

An Epic Vision
Star Wars IV: A New Hope™
Set of 2 ornaments
Inspired by the styling of famed artist Ralph McQuarrie in preproduction
Sales limited to 500 sets per day for total production run of 2,000

Bossk and Dengar join Hallmark’s itty bittys line with a Celebration-exclusive two-pack of the fearsome bounty hunters seen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

More than a dozen heroes, villains and creatures of Star Wars are now among the iconic characters of film, comics and television to appear as sweetly and uniquely styled plush itty bittys exclusively in Hallmark Gold Crown® stores and online at Hallmark.com.

This bounty hunter two-pack has a total production run of 2,200 and sales will be limited to 550 per day ($20 per set).

Bossk and Dengar
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back™
Sales limited to 550 sets per day for total production run of 2,200