Pete Seeger (U.S. 2022)

Posted on by

Announced November 1, 2021:

The 10th stamp in the Music Icons series honors Pete Seeger (1919-2014), a champion of traditional music and its power to inspire activism. Seeger’s clear tenor voice, iconic banjo and enormous charisma transformed concerts into singalongs. The stamp art features a color-tinted black-and-white photograph of Seeger singing and playing his banjo in the early 1960s, by Dan Seeger, the performer’s son. One side of the pane includes 16 stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the stamp art photograph appears on the reverse side. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and pane.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

Updated September 8th — Scott Catalogue Number:
5708 (60¢) Pete Seeger
a. Imperforate

[ceremony advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Honors Folk Singer Pete Seeger
Stamp Is Latest in Music Icons Stamp Series

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor famed folk singer Pete Seeger with a stamp as part of the Music Icon series. Seeger celebrated the unifying power of singing together and promoting the role traditional music played in addressing social and political causes.
The first-day-of-issue ceremony will be held at the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, RI. Share the news of the stamp with the hashtag #PeteSeegerStamp.

WHO: Tom Foti, product solutions vice president, U.S. Postal Service, will serve as dedicating official

Dan Seeger (Pete Seeger’s son & stamp photographer) and other family members

WHEN: Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET

WHERE:
Newport Folk Presents:
For Pete’s Sake
Jane Pickens Theater
49 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840

RSVP: The Peter Seeger stamp dedication ceremony will have limited tickets available. Please RSVP at usps.com/peteseegermi to sign up for tickets. The ceremony will take place at the beginning of a concert honoring Pete Seeger. Attendees must be at least 21 years old to watch the stamp ceremony and concert. Proof of identification will be required. Stamps and philatelic items will be available outside of the Jane Pickens Theater for the public to purchase.

BACKGROUND: Pete Seeger (1919-2014) promoted the unifying power of voices joined in song to address social issues. His adaptation of “We Shall Overcome” became a civil rights anthem. Led by his ringing tenor voice and emblematic five-string banjo, his sing-along concerts mixed traditional songs and Seeger originals like “If I Had a Hammer” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” During his long career, the charismatic and idealistic performer became a folk hero to generations.

Updated June 21st:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.49″ The B&W Pictorial Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.24″

From the Postal Bulletin:

On July 21, 2022, in Newport, RI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Pete Seeger stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 16 stamps (580400). The stamp will go on sale nationwide July 21, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The Pete Seeger pane of 16 stamps may not be split and the stamps may not be sold individually.

With the newest stamp in the Music Icons series, the Postal Service™ honors folk singer, songwriter, and activist Pete Seeger (1919–2014). The stamp art features a color-tinted, black-and-white photograph taken in the early 1960s by Dan Seeger, the performer’s son. Pete Seeger is shown in left profile singing and playing his iconic banjo. The square stamp pane resembles a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the stamp-art photograph appears on the reverse side with the words “Pete Seeger FOLK SINGER.” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the issuance. Dan Seeger’s photograph was color-tinted by Kristen Monthei.

No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Pete Seeger Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 21, 2022.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Pete Seeger Stamp
Item Number: 580400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 16 (1 design)
Series: Music Icons
Issue Date & City: July 21, 2022, Newport, RI 02840
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Existing Photo: Dan Seeger
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 16
Print Quantity: 22,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Square
Image Area (w x h): 1.085 x 1.085 in./27.559 x 27.559 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.225 x 1.225 in./31.115 x 31.115 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7 x 7 in./177.8 x 177.8 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 21.25 x 21.25 in./539.75 x 539.75 mm
Plate Size: 144 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: none
Marginal Markings:
Front: ©2022 USPS • USPS logo • Barcode (580400) in lower right corner of pane • Promotional text • Biography brief
Back: • “Pete Seeger” • Music Icons logo

Updated April 21st:

This stamp will be issued July 21 in Newport, RI. The Newport Folk Festival is July 22-24.

Updated November 2nd:
This book (semi-autobiography) may be of interest:


The above link goes to the Kindle version, but from there you can order the printed paperback. Here are two CDs. Note that if you order a (physical) CD from Amazon, a digital download of it is included:

14 thoughts on “Pete Seeger (U.S. 2022)”

  1. Where is Michael Jackson?
    Probably the most talented performer ever. A music legend like only one other, Elvis
    Presley, who’s stamps are printed all over the world.
    Like many other talented performers, Michael had his faults.
    He deserves a stamp in his honor.

    • I agree that a Michael Jackson stamp should be planned. I don’t know why but USPS seems unwilling to honor anything or anyone that someone somewhere will not take issue with.

      By current standards of going with safe, ho-hum stamps like flowers, cars and scenery, a Pete Seeger stamp is a bold step. I am glad to see it and would like to see Michael Jackson and others.

      • Alan, I’m sure a number of people will take issue with a Pete Seeger stamp! More likely with Michael Jackson is a rights issue. Even before he died, he (or “his people”) were very aware of rights. Do you remember his falling-out with Paul McCartney when he (or his people) acquired the Lennon-McCartney “catalogue” of songs and began licensing them for commercials?

        • Hi. That makes sense. I recall several years ago when Elvis and some other musicians were honored some people wanted a Sam Cooke stamp but there were rights issues and it never happened.

          • More recently, the Jimi Hendrix stamp wasn’t included in the USPS’ Stamp Yearbook, because the USPS didn’t obtain the rights beyond issuing the stamp! I was expecting a John Glenn stamp this past summer for the centennial of his birth. Squeaky-clean war hero, astronaut, politician that everyone liked. Rumor is it was a rights problem.

  2. Pete Seeger was born May 3, 1919, in New York City. However, his home for much of his life was in Beacon, NY, about 50 miles up the Hudson River from NYC. As of now, the Beacon Historical Society is unaware of any plans for a first-day ceremony. There are several music festivals that include folk music in the U.S. the weekend before Seeger’s birth anniversary, April 28-May 1, but none in the Northeast USA. The closest might be Solid Sound, May 27-29, in North Adams, Mass.

    • With the latest date announcements covering March through April, it appears this stamp will not be issued May 3.

  3. does anyone know just when the Pete Seeger stamp will be released? I am absolutely in the stratosphere of heaven that we are honoring this legendary dynamo!

    • No, there’s been no indication. I would have expected/hoped for next month on his birthday, but all the May issue dates have been announced (at least for the already-known issues).

  4. Oh man I wonder how fast these tickets to the concert on July 21st or going to go I’ve been waiting for such a long time for this announcement

  6. Some may be interested to note that Beacon, NY is offering a pictorial postmark related to the Pete Seeger stamp. Covers with proper postage can be sent along with a larger stamped self-addressed envelope to the below address within 30 days of July 23, 2022.

    Pictorial Postmarks
    Beacon, NY Station
    Postmaster
    369 Main Street
    Beacon, NY 12508-9998

Comments are closed.