USPS To Offer Elvis Presley Commemorative Stamp With New Greatest Hits CD
Elvis Presley is heading to a post office near you in time for this year’s Elvis Week celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. The U.S. Postal Service announced the King of Rock and Roll will be immortalized in a stamp collection once again. Beginning August 12, the greatest hits CD, Elvis Forever, will be available online and in some post offices along with the stamp. The RCA/Legacy Recordings album 18 of Elvis’ top hits and a previously unreleased version of “If I Can Dream.”
A young Presley in a black-and-white shot taken by photographer William Speer in 1955 will grace the stamps. The stamps will cost 49 cents and can be used in the future even when the price of stamps increase. Elvis’ new stamp is part of the Music Icons series, which launched in 2013 and also includes Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, and Mexican-American music star Lydia Mendoza.
Elvis is the first artist to be featured in two different collections of stamps. The last time Elvis was featured on stamps was back in 1993, and it became one of the most popular commemorative stamps of all time, according to Postal Services spokesperson Mark Saunders.
“To be immortalized on a stamp is quite rare,” Saunders said. “And to be immortalized twice is even more special.”
Along with single stamps, a block of 16 will be issued. According to Music News, the page of stamps resembles a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve with the following text.
“During his illustrious career, rock-and-roll superstar Elvis Presley starred in dozens of feature films, won three Grammy Awards, and recorded 18 number one singles: Heartbreak Hotel, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Don’t Be Cruel, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Too Much, All Shook Up, (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, Jailhouse Rock, Don’t, Hard Headed Woman, A Big Hunk O’ Love, Stuck On You, It’s Now Or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Surrender, Good Luck Charm, Suspicious Minds.”
Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ former wife, and Postmaster General Megan Brennan will dedicate the stamp on August 12 at Graceland during the Elvis Week celebration.
As the Inquisitr previously reported, also happening during the Elvis Week celebration is the third Auction At Graceland, hosted by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland. Over 170 authentic Elvis Presley items will be auctioned off to the general public, including his famous light blue jumpsuit he wore in concert. The auction will be held on August 13, three days before the 38th anniversary of Presley’s death.
Do you plan to snag the new Elvis Presley CD and stamps?
[Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
