Remembering Nat ‘King’ Cole: The USPS Popular Singers Stamp Issued September 1, 1994

USPS issued a 29-cent Nat “King” Cole stamp on September 1, 1994, as part of the Legends of American Music program.

Music, broadcasting, and the stamp

Cole first became known through the King Cole Trio and later reached a much wider audience as a vocalist. “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Unforgettable” represent different stages of that career; his television series also made him a national broadcast figure.

C. F. Payne created the approved portrait artwork. The stamp shows Cole in a dark suit and tie, facing slightly to the side, with his name, the 29-cent denomination, and the Legends of American Music identification.

How this issue differs from the singers set

The Nat King Cole stamp belongs to the Popular Singers group in the Legends of American Music program, not the eight-design Jazz and Blues Singers issue released later that month in Greenville. Keeping the groups separate prevents the September 1 date, issue format, and portrait credit from being transferred to unrelated stamps.

The Popular Singers group also honored Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Ethel Waters, and Al Jolson. Naming the five subjects makes clear that Cole’s stamp was one design in a coordinated group while preserving the article’s focus on his individual portrait and career.

Cole’s career also crossed categories: his piano-led trio helped popularize a smaller ensemble sound, while later recordings and television work made his baritone voice central to his public image. A useful description names both roles rather than presenting him only as a vocalist.

Sources

Key facts were checked against the National Postal Museum 29-cent Nat “King” Cole object record; Library of Congress Nat King Cole resources.