# 4807a - 2013 First-Class Forever Stamp - Imperforate Music Icons Series: Ray Charles

U.S. # 4807a
2013 46¢ Ray Charles Imperforate

Music Icons

Handicapped by blindness, burdened by racism, and orphaned at age 15, Ray Charles (1930-2004) overcame these immense challenges to become a music pioneer. His fusion of rhythm and blues with gospel and jazz helped give birth to rock ‘n’ roll, prompting Frank Sinatra to call Charles “the only true genius in show business.”

Glaucoma robbed Charles of his vision by age seven, but his mother pushed him to be self-sufficient. Charles chopped wood and even drove a motorcycle. His real love was music, a talent he honed while attending the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.

Quitting school after his mother died, Charles moved to Seattle at 17 and began recording. Two years later, he had his first hit with Confession Blues. A decade of hits followed before Charles scored his first country music chart topper, helping to integrate that style. His signature tune, Georgia On My Mind, became that state’s official song.

Following a series of high profile appearances in the 1990s, Charles died at the age of 73. Over 1,500 fans attended his funeral, which featured performances by B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and Stevie Wonder... stars whose careers benefited because Charles had already broken barriers of race and physical handicap.

The 2013 Ray Charles stamp features a photo by Yves Carrére taken late in his career.   The stamp and full pane were designed to resemble a 45rpm record sleeve, with the pane picturing part of a record peeking through the top. 

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

Issued:  September 23, 2013

First Day City:  Los Angeles, CA and Atlanta, GA

Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products
Method: Offset printing in sheets of 144 in 9 panes of 16

Perforation: Imperforate

Self-Adhesive

Charles was the third honoree in the Music Icons Series, which includes other legends Lydia Mendoza (#4786), Johnny Cash (#4789), Jimi Hendrix (#4880), Janis Joplin (#4916), and Elvis Presley (#5009).

There were two first day of issues ceremonies, one the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and the other at the Ray Charles Preforming Arts Center in Atlanta.

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.