34c Bernstein single

The Postal Service issued a 34-cent Leonard Bernstein commemorative stamp in New York, New York, on July 10, 2001. The stamp, designed by Howard Paine of Delaplane, Virginia, was based on a photograph by Don Hunstein.

With the issuance of this stamp, the Postal Service honored Leonard Bernstein for his contributions to the American music tradition. He was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1918. He graduated from Harvard University in 1939 with a degree in music and continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. From 1945 to 1947 Bernstein was music director of the New York City Symphony Orchestra. In 1958 he was appointed music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Bernstein composed symphonies, chamber music, and vocal music as well as works for ballet, opera, film, and the Broadway musical stage, including scores for "On the Town," and "Wonderful Town," the comic operetta "Candide," and "West Side Story." Bernstein died on October 14, 1990, a few days after announcing his retirement.

Sterling Sommer printed 55 million stamps in the offset process with microprinting "USPS."

Reference:

Postal Bulletin (May 31, 2001).

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