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New U.S. Stamp

June 03, 2015 | Other

Elvis Presley will be commemorated on a Forever stamp as an inductee into the Postal Service's Music Icon series.

The stamp image will be previewed at a later date. The First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony will take place on the morning of August 12 at Graceland as part of this year's Elvis Week celebration. The public is encouraged to tweet about this news using #ElvisForever.

“Graceland is thrilled to host the First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony for the new Elvis Presley commemorative stamp August 12 here in Memphis, during Elvis Week," said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises. "We’re proud that the first Elvis Presley stamp, which we debuted at Graceland in 1993, has become the most popular U.S. commemorative stamp of all time. We look forward to this new stamp ceremony, on the front lawn of Elvis’ historic home, as we welcome Elvis fans and stamp collectors from around the world.”   

Launched in 2013, the Music Icon series consists of beloved musicians whose blend of sound and way of life broke musical boundaries. The first inductees included Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. Last year's inductees were Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

The Postal Service previously honored Elvis on a stamp in 1993, which has become the most popular U.S. commemorative stamp of all time.

Source:Graceland.com
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 03, 2015
This new 49-cent forever stamp just might outsell the 1993 29-cent stamp. That would be incredible!
Cruiser621 wrote on June 04, 2015
Great! Depending on the design and color, I bet it does sell well.... The original was Outstanding!
JerryNodak wrote on June 06, 2015
What if the new Elvis stamp out sells the big, new SONY Elvis music project, "If I Can Dream," scheduled to be debuted in September? Now that would be something I'd love to see unfold.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 06, 2015
The new Elvis stamp will easily outsell the new Sony CD, "If I Can Dream"... or any other CD for that matter.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 07, 2015
The U.S. Postal Service will have to roll back a portion of its largest rate increase in 11 years after a federal court ruled that the higher postage prices in place since January 2014 can’t be permanent. Postal regulators had agreed to a 3-cent emergency postage hike for first-class letters, to 49 cents from 46 cents, after the Postal Service said it needed to recoup billions of dollars it lost during the recession. The 4.3 percent increase came on top of the customary 1.7 percent postage prices have risen to adjust for inflation. But regulators set a cap on the amount of revenue USPS could recoup with the higher prices. The cap will be reached this summer. USPS and the industry representing bulk mailers filed legal challenges as soon as the price increase took effect, with mailers challenging the recession’s justification for higher rates and the post office — which had pressed regulators for a 6 percent increase — arguing that the hike should be permanent. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the emergency rates should not become permanent. The aftereffects of the recession have become “the new normal,” the ruling said — and the Postal Service must adjust to that reality. “The Commission sensibly concluded that the statutory exception allowing higher rates when needed to respond to extraordinary financial circumstances should only continue as long as those circumstances, in fact, remained extraordinary,” Circuit Judge Patricia Ann Millet wrote on behalf of the appeals court. “The Commission permissibly reasoned that just because some of the effects of exigent circumstances may continue for the foreseeable future, that does not mean that those circumstances remain ‘extraordinary’ or ‘exceptional’ for just as long.” But the court also said the Postal Regulatory Commission had acted arbitrarily in calculating that postal officials should collect about $3 billion from the rate increased, and told the commission to re-examine its methods. As of Friday, it was unclear when the rates will be rolled back and by how much. “The continuation of the exigent pricing surcharge is critical to the Postal Service’s financial health…” Katina Fields, a USPS spokeswoman, said in a statement. The mailing industry claimed victory. “We are happy that the court rejected the Postal Service attempt to make a temporary surcharge last forever,” Stephen Kearney, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, said in a statement. “Maintaining the affordability of mail will help ensure that our nation’s postal system remains healthy for years to come. Stamps should be forever, but not surcharges.” Rolling back the price from 49 cents may be easier than it seems. While the price of a first-class letter jumped to 49 cents in January 2014, the Postal Service did not print new stamps to reflect the change. Instead, it relied on its popular line of “Forever” stamps, which now costs 49 cents instead of 46. With the court ruling, USPS will again revise the price of the Forever stamp.
wildfishie wrote on June 07, 2015
Will there be any kind of poll like the one that happened with the 29c stamp?
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 08, 2015
No poll that I'm aware of this time.
Steve V wrote on June 08, 2015
I dont think anything will outsell the original Elvis stamp including this new one. Interest just isn't as high as before, and the publicity isn't even 1/10 of what it was back in the early 90's. I didnt even know about it until I read this article.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 08, 2015
Steve V, there'll be much more publicity about it when August arrives. How well (or how poorly) the new stamp sells might ultimately come down to the chosen design and image. Even if this new stamp doesn't outsell the original Elvis stamp, maybe it will at least become the second-best selling U.S. stamp of all-time.
TheMemphisFan wrote on July 02, 2015
In conjunction with the new U.S. Elvis stamp, Sony Music’s RCA/Legacy Recordings will be releasing an exclusive CD titled "Elvis Forever". The disc will be available online and in select post offices beginning Aug. 12