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The Most Valuable Elvis Presley First Day Cover In The World
And The Earliest Known Usage of the Elvis Presley Forever Stamp
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U.S. Scott Catalog #27211993 Elvis Presley
Best-selling commemorative stamp in US history Design voted on by the public in a contest bringing in over one million votes Kicked off the Legends of American Music stamp series
Stamp Category: CommemorativeSet: Legends of American Music Series Value: 29c First-Class postage rateFirst Day of Issue: January 8,1993First Day City: None. Issued nationwide at noon on January 8. Dedication ceremonies took place at Elvis’ Graceland home in Memphis.First Day Cancel: Memphis, TennesseeQuantity Issued: 517,000,000Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and PrintingPrinting Method: PhotogravureFormat: Semi-jumbo stamp; printed in panes of 40; 5 columns across and 8 rows downPerforations: 11 Why the stamp was issued: The Elvis stamp was issued as the first of the new Legends of American Music Series. It satisfied the First-Class postage rate. About the stamp design: The stamp was designed by Mark Stutzman, with art direction by Howard Paine. Special design details: The stamp bears Elvis’ first name only on a background representing a torn ticket stub. About The Set: The Legends of American Music Series debuted on January 8, 1993 and ran until 1999. More than 90 performers and musicians are represented from all styles of music: rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and pop, opera and classical, gospel and folk. In addition to individual singers and Broadway musicals, subjects include bandleaders, classical composers, Hollywood songwriters and composers, plus conductors and lyricists. The Legends of American Music Set was a huge advancement for diversity because it honored so many Black and female artists. The 29c “young Elvis” – Scott Catalog #2721, kicked off the series in a big and very public way. Its design was voted on by over one million Americans, about 75% of whom favored the young Elvis over the “old Elvis” version. History the stamp represents: When Elvis died in 1977, fans around the nation immediately wanted a stamp honoring him. After ten years, he was eligible to appear on a US stamp, and requests poured in. A decade later, the postmaster general hinted at issuing a stamp to honor Elvis along with other major American music figures. While many people liked the idea of an Elvis stamp, he was also a controversial subject due to his history of drug use. However, after a long debate, Elvis was chosen for the first stamp in the new Legends of American Music Series. The big day came on January 8, 1993, which would’ve been Elvis’s 58th birthday. In all, 517,000,000 million of that first Elvis stamp (#2721) were printed, three times the usual print run for a commemorative. The first Elvis stamp of the Legends of American Music Series is the most widely publicized and best-selling US commemorative stamp in history. On June 16th, the second Elvis stamp in the Legends of American Music Series, was issued in a se-tenant set of seven (#2724). It appeared on a sheet of 35, along with the six other Legends of American Music honorees: Bill Haley, Clyde McPhatter, Ritchie Valens, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and Dinah Washington. On the same day, Elvis appeared on yet a third stamp (#2731) with these same greats of Rock ‘n’ Roll. This time the format was a booklet of eight with Elvis appearing twice. A booklet pane of 4 included Elvis, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and Dinah Washington. The Legends of American Music Series was on its way. A total of 17 individual sets were issued throughout the series’ run.
Stamp Category: CommemorativeSet: Legends of American Music Series Value: 29c First-Class postage rateFirst Day of Issue: January 8,1993First Day City: None. Issued nationwide at noon on January 8. Dedication ceremonies took place at Elvis’ Graceland home in Memphis.First Day Cancel: Memphis, TennesseeQuantity Issued: 517,000,000Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and PrintingPrinting Method: PhotogravureFormat: Semi-jumbo stamp; printed in panes of 40; 5 columns across and 8 rows downPerforations: 11 Why the stamp was issued: The Elvis stamp was issued as the first of the new Legends of American Music Series. It satisfied the First-Class postage rate. About the stamp design: The stamp was designed by Mark Stutzman, with art direction by Howard Paine. Special design details: The stamp bears Elvis’ first name only on a background representing a torn ticket stub. About The Set: The Legends of American Music Series debuted on January 8, 1993 and ran until 1999. More than 90 performers and musicians are represented from all styles of music: rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and pop, opera and classical, gospel and folk. In addition to individual singers and Broadway musicals, subjects include bandleaders, classical composers, Hollywood songwriters and composers, plus conductors and lyricists. The Legends of American Music Set was a huge advancement for diversity because it honored so many Black and female artists. The 29c “young Elvis” – Scott Catalog #2721, kicked off the series in a big and very public way. Its design was voted on by over one million Americans, about 75% of whom favored the young Elvis over the “old Elvis” version. History the stamp represents: When Elvis died in 1977, fans around the nation immediately wanted a stamp honoring him. After ten years, he was eligible to appear on a US stamp, and requests poured in. A decade later, the postmaster general hinted at issuing a stamp to honor Elvis along with other major American music figures. While many people liked the idea of an Elvis stamp, he was also a controversial subject due to his history of drug use. However, after a long debate, Elvis was chosen for the first stamp in the new Legends of American Music Series. The big day came on January 8, 1993, which would’ve been Elvis’s 58th birthday. In all, 517,000,000 million of that first Elvis stamp (#2721) were printed, three times the usual print run for a commemorative. The first Elvis stamp of the Legends of American Music Series is the most widely publicized and best-selling US commemorative stamp in history. On June 16th, the second Elvis stamp in the Legends of American Music Series, was issued in a se-tenant set of seven (#2724). It appeared on a sheet of 35, along with the six other Legends of American Music honorees: Bill Haley, Clyde McPhatter, Ritchie Valens, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and Dinah Washington. On the same day, Elvis appeared on yet a third stamp (#2731) with these same greats of Rock ‘n’ Roll. This time the format was a booklet of eight with Elvis appearing twice. A booklet pane of 4 included Elvis, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and Dinah Washington. The Legends of American Music Series was on its way. A total of 17 individual sets were issued throughout the series’ run.
Elvis' best friend George Klein and David Saks sharing the microphone on WHBQ's Original Elvis Hour broadcast January 3rd 1993, five days before the most spectacular event in philatelic history, the Elvis Stamp issued January 8th 1993 at the home of Elvis, Graceland, and on the birthdate of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Listen to the show and please ignore the blurred image of the Elvis first day cover.
