I spoke with Memphis Postmaster Steve Cole at Graceland at the Thursday, August 13th satellite cancellation
station and he said that he didn't think the clerk would be dismissed, but couldn't answer that question
with certainty. One of the postal inspectors, who visited me Tuesday morning, also echoed the thoughts of Postmaster
Cole when I spoke with him early Thursday morning. He reiterated that they were satisfied that I had done nothing
improper or illegal in my transaction with her, as bribery, coercion, compulsion to sell or conspiracy were
their chief concerns. The thought of such a crime or an attempt to acquire the sheets or covers in that fashion
strikes me with disgust and revulsion. I take great pride in my hobby.
I walked in to the post office in Mason around
2:30pm on Monday August 10th, 2015, purchased the three sheets from the clerk, whom I had never seen before, had
the letters I addressed to myself and the sheets cancelled and drove to Graceland to show Elvis Presley Enterpises
CEO Jack Soden.
I then drove to the Commercial Appeal to show them to entertainment managing editor Peggy McKenzie.
Peggy has written stories about my enthusiasm for stamp collecting over the years. She was unavailable so her deputy
editor, Mark Richens, decided to report the story, which I've included in the links for you.
More than anything, my chief concern,
was my hope that the postal clerk would not be dismissed.
The foregone conclusion of the others
that I'd spoken with was that she would not be.She kept her job, thank goodness.
I would have been truly sorry if that had occurred, I'd have requested her reinstatement with a
letter to the Postmaster if that had been a tragic outcome of a harrowing week, and I gladly would have returned
the sheets if her job had been contingent upon it.
U.S.P.S.
postal inspectors allowed me to keep the early Mason Cancels.
The other concern for some had been that I obtained the sheets with a profit motive.
If
that were true I would have cancelled another sheet or set of envelopes in my possession on August 11th
or sold them on eBay, or another auction, immediately after obtaining them, which I could have, and also profited
handsomely. I did not.
I could have cancelled the other full mint sheet on August 11th, the Tuesday prior to event, had
thirty-three full hours to do so, and did not.
I did none of these things, and had plenty of time to do so.
I wanted the philatelic community, and Elvis fans, to
know that I'm a stamp collector, not a stamp dealer, and desired an unparalleled variety of the stamp.
The Elvis Forever Mason, Tennessee cancellations are radically
distinctive and have no equal.
I discovered a unique
opportunity in Mason, Tennessee and obtained three Elvis Forever sheets in good faith.
Nothing
more.
The Mason Cancels Are Not For Sale