Elvis Presley Stamp Approved

WASHINGTON — A postage stamp will be issued in honor of the king of rock ‘n’ roll, and Americans will help select the likeness they want to see.

Elvis Presley will appear on a postage stamp in 1993, Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank said Thursday in ending years of controversy about whether Presley was a fit subject for a stamp.

As part of a new “Legends of American Music” series, the stamp will be available in sheet form and as part of a booklet of five to eight stamps honoring American musicians, officials said. Presley’s name was the only one announced in the new series.

More than a dozen depictions of Presley are being considered. Officials said they plan to narrow the list to two or three, then solicit public comment before picking a winner.

Frank, who announced this week that he will leave his post next month, supported a Presley stamp. But some people protested, saying Presley should not be shown on a stamp because of his alleged problems with drugs.

Frank defended the singer, pointing out Presley’s contributions to music and entertainment in America.