Elvis Gets His Own ‘Music Icons’ Stamp

Elvis fans, rejoice: starting in August, your letters (or bills) can be graced with likeness of the King once again. The U.S. Postal Service has announced that Elvis Presley will be the face of the newest postage stamp in its Music Icons series.

The featured image is a black and white portrait of the artist, originally taken in 1955 by William Speer. The stamp also features Presley’s signature in gold on the righthand side, as well as a small, gold crown in the bottom left corner, signifying the performer’s famous nickname. The square book of stamps even comes in its own "record sleeve" with a tiny record pictured poking out of the top. The back side features 16 stamps, lined with a text border detailing Elvis' long list of prestigious accomplishments, including three Grammy awards, dozens of movie roles and 18 No. 1 hits.

Though the King died in 1977, USPS has collaborated with Sony Music’s RCA/Legacy Recordings to release an exclusive album featuring 18 of Presley’s biggest hits called Elvis Forever, which will include a new performance of “If I Can Dream."

For fans who can’t wait, the stamps and the album are already available for pre-order on the USPS website, but they will also be available in select post office locations beginning Aug. 12. A dedication ceremony will be held at the famed Presley home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tenn., on release day, and will be attended by Presley’s widow Pricilla and Postmaster General Megan Brennan.The best-selling USPS stamp of all time, printed in 1993, also featured Presley’s iconic visage in a colorful drawing stamped in the corner with only his first name.

The Music Icons series began in 2013 and has featured several quintessential artists, including country legend Johnny Cash (May 2013), Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles.

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