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USPS News: Philatelic Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2001
Stamp Release No. 01-047
WORLD RENOWN CONDUCTOR, COMPOSER HONORED WITH U.S. POSTAGE STAMP
Leonard Bernstein Stamp Issued at New York Philharmonic Concert
Leonard Bernstein Stamp Issued at New York Philharmonic Concert
WASHINGTON, D.C. – He astounded the world with his passion for music, from symphonies to Broadway shows. Leonard Bernstein—conductor, composer, pianist, teacher and author—will be honored by the U.S. Postal Service next month with the issuance of the Leonard Bernstein commemorative stamp on July 10 in New York, N.Y.The ceremony will be held prior to the opening of the AOL Time Warner Concerts in the Parks series at 8 p.m. (ET) on the Great Lawn in Central Park. The concert will showcase the works of Bernstein and feature guest violinist Joshua Bell. The 34-cent Leonard Bernstein stamp will be available at New York City post offices starting July 10. It will be available at post offices across the country beginning the following day.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the Postal Service to showcase the richness and diversity of the U.S. stamp program," said John F. Walsh, a member of the Postal Service Board of Governors, who will dedicate the stamp. "Leonard Bernstein made a significant contribution to the culture of our nation and to the world, and we are proud to issue this stamp honoring his numerous accomplishments."
Joining Walsh will be Paul B. Guenther, New York Philharmonic Board Chairman; Gerald M. Levin, AOL Time Warner CEO and Zarin Mehta, New York Philharmonic Executive Director. Other participants will include Schuyler Chapin, New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner; Henry Stern, New York City Parks & Recreation Commissioner and C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President.
Bernstein was born in 1918 in Lawrence, Mass., and began piano lessons as a boy. He graduated from Harvard University in 1939 with a degree in music. The young musician continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, earning a diploma in conducting in 1941. He also received training at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, Mass.
In August 1943, Bernstein was named assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic. On Nov. 14 he substituted for guest conductor Bruno Walter and led the orchestra through its entire program in a nationally broadcast concert at Carnegie Hall. The reviews-including front page coverage in The New York Times-were enthusiastic, and soon orchestras worldwide were inviting him to serve as guest conductor.
From 1945 to 1957, Bernstein was the music director of the New York City Symphony orchestra. In 1958, he was appointed music director of the New York Philharmonic, the first U.S.-born and trained conductor to hold that position. He retired from the New York Philharmonic in 1969 to become laureate conductor. On Dec. 15, 1971, he conducted his 1,000th concert with the Philharmonic; an unprecedented achievement in that orchestra's history.
Bernstein composed symphonies, chamber music and vocal music, as well as works for ballet, opera, film and the Broadway musical stage. Several compositions celebrate his Jewish heritage, including the symphonies "Jeremiah" and "Kaddish." Among his other works are the symphony "The Age of Anxiety," the ballet "Fancy Free," and the operas "Trouble in Tahiti" and "A Quiet Place." His many contributions to musical theater include scores for "On The Town," "Wonderful Town," the comic operetta "Candide" and "West Side Story," which was made into an Academy Award-winning film. He received an Academy Award® nomination for his score for the film "On The Waterfront."
Over the years Bernstein garnered many honors, including several Emmy® and Grammy® awards. He died in 1990, just a few days after announcing his retirement from public performances.
The stamp, designed by art director Howard Paine of Delaplane, Va. features a black-and-white photograph taken in June 1968 by Don Hunstein, then a photographer for Columbia Records. Hunstein specialized in photographs of musicians and has photographed, among others, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Bobby Short and Garrick Ohlsson. This is Hunstein's first stamp for the Postal Service.
To see the Leonard Bernstein stamp, and other forthcoming stamps and stationery in the 2001 U.S. stamp program, visit www.usps.com and click on "Stamp Release Schedule." To see previous releases, select "Index of Stamp Issues."
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of current stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Issue: Leonard Bernstein
Item Number: 451600
Denomination & Type of Issue: 34-cent commemorative
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 10, 2001, New York, NY 10199
Photographer: Don Hunstein
Designer: Howard Paine, Delaplane, VA
Engraver: N/A
Art Director: Howard Paine, Delaplane, VA
Typographer: Thomas Mann
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset/Microprint "USPS"
Printer: Sterling Sommer
Printed at: Tonawanda, NY
Press Type: Akiyama, 628
Stamps per Coil/Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 55 million stamps
Paper Type: Prephosphored,Type I
Gum Type: Water-activated
Processed at: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Colors: Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.41 in./21.336 x 35.814 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.99 x 1.56 in./25.171 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.94 x 7.24 in./150.876 x 183.896 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: "P" followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: © 2000 USPS • Price • Plate Numbers • Plate Position Diagram • Barcodes • Copyright Text •
Catalog Item Number(s): 451620 Block of 4 — $1.36
451630 Block of 10 — $3.40
451640 Full Pane w/plate no. — $6.80
451661 First Day Cover — $0.55
Postal Retail Store
Item Number(s): 451615 Full Pane — $6.80
HOW TO ORDER THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARK
Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamps at their local post office, affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address an envelope (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: LEONARD BERNSTEIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP, POSTMASTER, JAF BUILDING PO BOX 2001 NEW YORK, NY 10116-9991.
After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service returns the envelope through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. Requests for first day of issue cancellation must be postmarked by August 10, 2001
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers the first day covers for new stamp issues and postal 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. Customers may request a free catalog by writing to: INFORMATION FULFILLMENT, US POSTAL SERVICE, DEPT 6270, PO BOX 219014, KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014, or by calling 1 800 STAMP-24.
First day covers remain on sale for at least one year after the stamp's issuance.