Living Person On US Stamp - Any Updates?

Has anyone heard if the USPS is getting close to announce its first "official" living person on a stamp. My guess is that they would do this sometime around one of the next two or three holidays - Memorial Day, Flag Day or July 4th.

I am still against it, but my vote didn't count.

I know there was a previous thread in here on who we thought might be chosen.

Any new candidates?

I had a few: Jimmy Carter, he will be on a stamp someday so it's a no lose situation. And he has done a lot for charity and statesmanship since he left the presidency.

Muhammad Ali - He's still alive and is as well known today for being a humble servant of God as he was a loud-mouthed, though extremely talented, savvy pugilist. He has also been a worldwide ambassador. You could not go anywhere in the world where people would not know who he was.

Tony Bennett - legendary jazz vocalist; has never caused an uproar and is a classic American singer (could be part of a package that would include Sinatra? and others)

Oprah Winfrey - you love her or hate her (though, I am pretty neutral.) She has been a grand success in the entertainment industry - in fact is certainly considered one of the most powerful, and maybe most powerful woman in the industry. She also has a legacy of helping and giving back that may not be rivaled by others in her position.

Paul Allen - co-founder of Microsoft and 10 years on the list of most generous people in America.



I am sure there are many unsung heroes, but since this is a big publicity thing, the USPS needs to make it someone somewhat recognizeable (and maybe collectible and marketable?), likely a do-gooder and definitely non-partisan (at least for the past 20 years or so).

This was a "hot topic" when it first hit the news headlines late in 2011, then after half the country started guessing as to who would be worthy of the honor, the idea fell by the wayside and more pressing news about the financial mess of the USPS and the closing of many rural post offices, etc., took over the news headlines. Now that the matter of post office closings has been resolved (to a degree) it may be that this issue will come back to the forefront.

It is still possible that the USPS could select a person for the honor in 2012, but the year is almost half over and they'd have to announce something pretty soon to make it happen. In fact, it has been suggested that no matter how "top secret" they keep the information, there are just too many parties involved in the design, printing and distribution of new stamp issues, that the information will be leaked out long before any surprise announcement can be made.

Personally, I doubt a politician (such as a Former President) would be named, as they will all get their stamps in due time. The idea is to make a media event out of it, so the more popular the person may be (entertainment industry?), the more they will draw in non-collectors to acquire the stamp and ultimately more media attention will be given to the announcement.

In fact, it wouldn't be unheard of to consider that an issue with more than one individual be named on it (i.e. in a block format, etc.) so that the honor may be spread around. In any event, no matter who may be selected, there will always be that back door question as to whether the person named can keep their act clean for the duration of their life and not be depicted on a stamp only to have the person later accused of some legal misdeeds.

The balancing act to select a person to meet all of this criteria is indeed overwhelming and the selection process should not be taken lightly just because of how much it may produce in retail stamp sales.

Good God! not Oprah! She's everywhere already! It's not surprising her foundering network is called OWN. Will no one else ever appear on her magazine cover - WITHOUT HER? (did I ever mention not to bring up Oprah in my presence? Now you know why )
We put living folks on our stamps here in Canada now, and I'm not sure it's a good thing. I mean who's worthy? I think I am, but no one from Canada Post has contacted me yet. Heck, I think I should be appointed to the Senate too (a lifetime appointment with a six figure salary), but Mr. Harper hasn't returned my calls.

Good comments all.

Re: Is it too late? I would say not. They have the candidates in hand; they have production people available. They could get it done in just a matter of months if someone snapped their fingers and said "look, we have big targets on our backs as it is .. .we have to get something done right and done now!" (Many years ago, the first Jenny airmail stamp was produced quickly with antiquated methods; and same is true with the Mercury stamp in the 1960s).

Re: An entertainer? Hmmmm ... I don't think too many modern entertainers would get the nod - is Bruce Springsteen modern enough? He's a maybe - a certain American voice heard by many.

Re: Oprah - as I said, most people love her or hate her, but no matter what feelings some have, I think she remains a viable candidate.

Re: Keeping the slate clean ... indeed. If this policy had been instituted 10 years ago, I could certainly have imagined that Joe Paterno would have received a stamp while living. And then look what happened.

Re: Carter, etc. I agree in due time they get their stamp. But I think many would be happy to see it before they died. Of course, if you did it for one president, you would set a precedent and probably have to do it for all.

I still like Ali as top choice.

Oh .. and speaking of Canadians on stamps. I just saw one of your philatelic legends in concerts Sunday night ... Gordon Lightfoot. He had not come through our town since the early 1970s. Yes, he has lost a lot but could still carry a tune and the thrill was to see a true legend singing his own songs. I am closer to 60 than 50, but I was surprised at the good number of 40 and younger in the audience. And I was proud of our city (Syracuse, NY). Everyone could see and hear that he was not the GL who had produced all of those great hits in his day, but the crowd offered support to this artist from start to finish with plenty of grand applause, shout-outs, etc. I was glad I went and I would say Canadians should be proud that he is on a stamp, to boot.

How about Pat Summit, the winningest coach in collegiate basketball history and a great role model. Either her or Ali would probably be my first choice. Can't even imagine anyone from the political world I could support.

Ah .. Pat Summit would certainly be worthy and deserving, though, as a first guess, I would say no, only because the USPS is going to want to make it a huge deal and I am not sure Pat would be on the A list for marketing, etc. She'd be nice for 2013, though, maybe in a group of legendary college basketball coaches - Wooden, Rupp, Dean Smith and Summitt - great quartet!

centerstage98, yeah, that would be a great block of four - especially since there is some precedence in honoring collegiate football coaches Bear Bryant (3143/3148) and Pop Warner (3144/3149). I'd imagine that would be quite a popular item honoring the living coaches and those who have passed.

Ali? As a veteran I would never buy a stamp depicting a draft dodger.

I never heard of these entertainers and sports figures! How about someone who the over 40 crowd recognizes.

What do you mean by the "USPS first official living person on a Stamp " Has the USPS released a non-official ?

stallzer, I think what centerstage98 is alluding to are those stamps like US #B1, 4143e (Mark Hamill), and 4143l (Han Solo)that appear to have living Americans on them, or that honor individual accomplishments of living persons like C10 for Lindbergh and #1193 for the Mercury astronauts.

Check out this previous thread where we have discussed living people that may have (inadvertently or intentionally) been depicted on past US postage stamps. An interesting discussion to be sure, and I'm not even certain it covered them all!

http://goscf.com/t/19673&SearchTerms=living,people

Correct, lpmiller, I am well aware there have been "living people" noted on stamps - there was only one first man on the moon, we know who raised the flags at Iowa Jima and the WTC .. but it was the events honored; not the people.

Yes, I knew there was a previous thread .. but I brought it up as we are at 5-months plus and have not heard (unless I missed it) and I would think if it were to happen this year (as promised) and annoucement would come soon.

I guess we can all stay tuned as we debate ...

For the record!

I feel it should stay as is. I is an Honor to be on a stamp. It will be all messed up with political, personnel and money will get involved in buying a spot on stamps. Now it may be good business to do it for a money starved USPS. But I just fell it will take something away from the honor of it.

Just my opinion on it.

To most stamp collectors who do not cherish the idea of a living person on a US Stamp, it sounds like the USPS Board of Governors now feels the same way:

http://postalnews.com/postalnewsblog/?p=2752

No wonder we haven't heard much about this in recent weeks/months.