First Day of Issue envelope with portrait stamp of Sousa within decorative border and "U.S. Honors Famous Americans" printed in red at left, with block of four 2-cent commemorative postal stamps, postmarked Washington, D.C., May 3, 1940 and "First Day of Issue

Sousa, an American composer, bandmaster and author, composed the official national march of the United States, The Stars and Stripes Forever... "Known as the ‘March King’, [he] was the most important figure in the history of bands and band music." Paul E. Bierley in Grove Music Online.