No 'Return To Sender' With New Elvis Stamp

Peter Rexford
Wed, 19 Aug 2015 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

On August 16, some 38 years ago, when I was a disc jockey on a rock station in St. Louis, the bell on the news Teletype started to ding furiously. It indicated there was a major breaking story. I pulled the sheet off the machine and read the report. At age 42, Elvis was dead. I had to announce it.

Fast-forward 16 years to January 1993. My disc jockey days were a memory, and I found myself at Graceland standing by a television satellite truck ready to report on the release of the long-awaited Elvis stamp for CBS. After over a year and lots of controversy, the public voted and the Elvis stamp had become a reality. Both Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie made surprise appearances at the event.

To say the release of the stamp was popular is akin to saying the moon landing was interesting. People and reporters had traveled to Memphis from around the world. So had tens of thousands of Elvis fans and stamp collectors believing this was a big deal. It was. According to the Smithsonian, that Elvis stamp remains the most popular and biggest selling U.S. stamp in history.
Updated: Thu Aug 20, 2015

On August 16, some 38 years ago, when I was a disc jockey on a rock station in St. Louis, the bell on the news Teletype started to ding furiously. It indicated there was a major breaking story. I pulled the sheet off the machine and read the report. At age 42, Elvis was dead. I had to announce it.

Fast-forward 16 years to January 1993. My disc jockey days were a memory, and I found myself at Graceland standing by a television satellite truck ready to report on the release of the long-awaited Elvis stamp for CBS. After over a year and lots of controversy, the public voted and the Elvis stamp had become a reality. Both Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie made surprise appearances at the event.

To say the release of the stamp was popular is akin to saying the moon landing was interesting. People and reporters had traveled to Memphis from around the world. So had tens of thousands of Elvis fans and stamp collectors believing this was a big deal. It was. According to the Smithsonian, that Elvis stamp remains the most popular and biggest selling U.S. stamp in history.

The Postal Service knows a good thing when it's got it because, move the clock up another 22 years and here we are with a new Elvis "Forever" stamp. This time, the stamp — showing a black and white image of a very young 1955 Elvis — joins the USPS "Music Icons" series of stamps with previous honorees, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Lydia Mendoza, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

The stamp was released just days before the anniversary of his August death. The issuance of it this year is appropriate given that his birth year was 1935 and Elvis would have just turned 80. Had he lived, I'm fairly sure he would still be performing today — think Mick Jagger, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, etc.

Elvis is still regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. As an early influencer of many musicians, including The Beatles, he became "The King of Rock 'n' Roll." During his career, he recorded 18 No. 1 singles, received three Grammies with14 nominations and starred in 33 movies. After serving in the Army he performed constantly and sold out all his 1,140 concerts. To this day he retains the record for having the most Top 40 hits on the charts — a total of 114 and was the first recording artist to sell more than one billion albums. Game. Set. Match.

Last week, Priscilla returned to Graceland to dedicate the new "Forever" Elvis stamp. So, too, did thousands of fans and collectors who crowded the lawn of his home for the ceremony. They were able to receive First Day of Issue cancels on the new stamp. The stamps come in panes of 16 that are creatively designed to look like vintage 45-RPM record sleeves.

Those who weren't able to attend the Memphis event can still receive the special cancel along with something even better. In conjunction with the stamp, Sony Music has partnered with the Postal Service to release the new CD, "Elvis Presley Forever" featuring 18 of Presley's hits. It's special because it contains a new version of his song "If I Can Dream" along with another previously unreleased track. Best of all, the CD costs only $9.99 and is available at select post offices nationwide. (If a post office near you doesn't have it, both the stamps and the CD can be ordered online at: www.USPS.com/shop.)

Those wishing to receive the special First Day of Issue postmark on the stamps can get it by purchasing the stamp at a local post office (or online), affixing one to a self-addressed envelope and sending that inside of a larger mailing envelope to: Elvis Presley Stamp, Postmaster, 555 South 3rd Street, Room 7306, Memphis, TN, 38101-9998.

There's no charge for the cancel and all envelopes will be returned via the regular mail service. However, it is time sensitive. All orders must be postmarked no later than Oct. 11, 2015.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new Elvis "Forever stamp has been sent with this column.