He’s Young, He’s Colorful, He’s Elvis: Post Offices Brace for Stamp Onslaught

Post offices around the country were hounded by Elvis Presley fans and impersonators Friday as commemorative Elvis stamps went on sale on what would have been the King’s 58th birthday.

The long-awaited release of the 29-cent stamp had fans wiggling and clerks crooning. Radio stations broadcast live from the post office, Col. Tom Parker signed autographs in Las Vegas and Priscilla Presley and 24-year-old Lisa Marie Keough, Elvis’ only child, stopped by Graceland.

The stamps were available 12:15 a.m. at Graceland, where Presley lived and died, and at noon elsewhere.

At the General Post Office in New York City, 1,000 people in T-shirts, belts, jackets and tattoos packed the block-long, marble lobby, chanting “Stamp, Stamp, Stamp” and counting down the seconds for sales to begin.

All morning, Elvis fans sang his songs into a microphone, with the words on a prompter in front of them and a recording of the music--sans Elvis’ voice--backing them up.

Many post offices designated special windows solely for Elvis stamps.

Postal workers in downtown Kansas City serenaded customers with “Return to Sender” and other Elvis hits.

The Postal Service held a nationwide election last summer to pick art work for the stamp, and more than 1 million ballots were cast. The fans went for the youthful Elvis.

The service has printed 500 million stamps, the largest issue of a commemorative stamp, but supplies were not expected to last.

Spokeswoman Robin Minard said commemorative stamps generally sell out within 90 days and no other has stirred the hoopla this one has.The Postal Service conservatively predicted profits of $20 million from the stamp and related souvenirs like coffee mugs and T-shirts.

First-day cancellations were available only in Memphis. Graceland’s first-day postal covers said “I was there” and sold for $5 each. Even with a a limit of 10 to a customer, the stock of 35,000 lasted until early afternoon.

About 1,500 fans gathered for the stamp kickoff at Graceland got an unexpected treat when Presley’s daughter showed up.

She gave a brief thank you and then watched the fireworks that marked the moment the 29-cent stamps went on sale.