The stamp will go on sale nationwide March 29, 2016.
The U.S. Postal Service honors one of America’s greatest singers, Sarah Vaughan (1924–1990). In addition to her impeccable jazz credentials — as a young singer, she worked with great players such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis — Vaughan successfully managed a second career as a pop singer. The stamp, part of the Music Icons series, features an oil painting of Vaughan in performance based on a photograph shot in 1955 by Hugh Bell. The stamp pane is designed to resemble a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps and a brief text about Vaughan’s career with the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out of the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the art featured on the stamp, the logo for the Music Icons series, and a list of some of Vaughan’s most popular songs appear on the reverse side. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp and the stamp pane with art created by Bart Forbes.
Free Tickets
Newark, NJ – Free tickets are currently available at the Newark Symphony Hall Box Office for the March 29, 11 a.m. first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Postal Service’s new Sarah Vaughan Forever Commemorative Stamp. The gala celebration, which features Grammy and Tony award-winning artists, is being held at the Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall at Newark Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad Street in Newark, NJ 07102.
To obtain free tickets, visit the Newark Symphony Hall Box Office located at 1030 Broad Street, or reserve by phone at 973-643-8014. The box office hours are Monday – Friday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mention USPS® online using #MusicIcons and # SarahVaughan Forever.
The stamp event is co-sponsored by Newark Celebration 350, which commemorates the city’s rich history by celebrating the talents of its citizenry. Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman, who earned a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University Law Center in Newark, will be the Postal Service’s dedicating official for the March 29 gala event. WBGO radio personality Rhonda Hamilton will serve as the emcee. The ceremony features a video tribute to Ms. Vaughan, a Proclamation from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and remarks from Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves. Musical highlights include performances by Tony Award winning actress and singer Melba Moore, vocalist Carrie Jackson, the Mount Zion Baptist Church Choir, and the NJPAC Jazz For Teens Ensemble with Jazzmeia Horn.
Resonance Records with the cooperation of National Public Radio (NPR) is also announcing the release of Sarah Vaughan – Live At Rosy’s, New Orleans on March 25, 2016. The deluxe 2-CD set is comprised exclusively of newly discovered recordings by Ms. Vaughan capturing the legendary jazz singer’s live performance at Rosy’s Jazz Club on May 31, 1978.
Sarah Vaughan was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1924. She was one of America’s most renowned singers with success in jazz and pop music. As a child growing-up in Newark, she sang in the choir at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church and played piano and organ in high school productions at Arts High School. Sarah Vaughan’s numerous accolades include: an Emmy Award for individual achievement in 1981; Grammy Award for best jazz vocalist 1982; Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 1989, and entered the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1990. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, selected for the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and recognized in Downbeat magazine’s international critics’ poll for best female singer in the world six times. On March 29, a commemorative stamp bearing Sarah Vaughan’s image will be added to her long list of honors.
How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http:??www.usps.com?shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
Sarah Vaughan Stamp
U.S. Postal Service
2 Federal Square
Newark, NJ 07102
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by May 29, 2016.
How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at http:??www.usps.com?shop, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:
- 586406, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $70.56 (print quantity 200).
- 586410*, Keepsake, $9.95.
- 586416*, First-Day Cover, $0.93.
- 586418*, First-Day Cover Full Pane, $10.34.
- 586419*, Cancelled Full Pane, $10.34.
- 586421*, Digital Color Postmark, $1.64.
- 586424*, Framed Art, $39.95.
- 586430*, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
Items with an asterisk (*) will use the 128 barcode from Stamp Fulfillment Services. All other philatelic products will continue to use barcode series A, with the exception of the Yearbook and the Guide Book.