# 4789a - 2013 First-Class Forever Stamp - Imperforate Music Icons Series: Johnny Cash

U.S. # 4789a
2013 46¢ Johnny Cash Imperforate

Music Icons Series

Raised in rural Arkansas during the Great Depression, Johnny Cash (1932-2003) knew hardship all too well. It became his musical inspiration for “The Man in Black,” one of many compositions that made Johnny an internationally renowned entertainer.

Tragedy rocked Cash’s childhood when his older brother died, but soon the young singer-songwriter found solace in music, especially gospel. In the 1950s, Cash took the country by storm with such hits as “I Walk the Line” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” His crossover hit “Ring of Fire” topped the pop music charts in 1963. Though he is considered a country music legend, Cash’s style touched rock and roll, blues, folk, and gospel.

Cash reached a younger generation in the 1990s with his own versions of modern hits, earning five Grammys for a lifetime total of 17. He was honored by the Kennedy Center and is one of few artists to be named to the Country, Rock and Roll, Gospel, and Songwriters Halls of Fame. In fact, he considered his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame to be one of his greatest achievements.  Johnny Cash wore black to honor the downtrodden while raising his unmistakable voice in songs of sorrow, hardship, and redemption.

Designed by Greg Breeding, the Cash stamp includes a photograph taken for the 1963 album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash.  The stamp is mostly dark, paying homage to Cash’s nickname, “The Man in Black.”  The stamp and full pane were designed to resemble a 45rpm record sleeve, with the pane picture part of a record peeking through the top. 

Value: 46¢ 1-ounce first-class letter rate

Issued:  June 5, 2013

First Day City: Nashville, TN – at the Ryman Auditorium, where several episodes of the Johnny Cash show were recorded between 1969 and 1971

Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Avery Dennison
Method: Photogravure printing in sheets of 128 in 8 panes of 16
Perforation: Imperforate   

Self-Adhesive

Johnny Cash was the second honoree in the U.S.P.S.’s Music Icons Series.  Begun in 2013, it pays tribute to performers representing a variety of eras and genres.  All the stamps and panes in the series are the same size, with the panes designed to look like record sleeves.

Scarce Modern Imperforates

The modern imperforate stamps are one of the hottest stories around.  In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service released some issues as press sheets.  The sheets with die cut perforations were issued in limited quantities. 

To the surprise of many collectors, officials then issued a small number of press sheets without perforations.  The uncut sheets were only available in Kansas City, Missouri, yet most sold out immediately.  In an instant, the imperforate stamp sheets became modern rarities.  For example, only 75,000 Baseball All-Star se-tenant sheets were issued compared to 118,000 Bugs Bunny sheets with the 10th stamp imperforate.

In a controversial move, the editors of Scott Catalogue announced they would not list or give numbers to these stamps because they did not fit Scott guidelines.  This decision was strongly debated since the imperforate stamps are valid for postage.   They eventually decided to give the stamps minor numbers and have continued issuing imperforates in the years since.

Because they were issued in such limited quantities, these scarce modern imperforates can be difficult to find.  Luckily Mystic purchased a small number of each imperforate stamp issued so you can add these modern rarities to your collection.  Be one of the lucky few – order today.