About This Stamp
A 20-cent commemorative stamp marking the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Metropolitan Opera was issued in New York City on September 14, 1983. The First Day of Issue ceremony was held in the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. The stamp was designed by Ken Davies of Madison, Connecticut, and modeled by Frank J. Waslick.
The Met, as it is popularly known, opened its doors October 22, 1883. The original Metropolitan Opera House was designed by architect Josiah Cleaveland Cady and was located on Broadway and 39th streets. The company moved into the new Metropolitan Opera House in 1966. It is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and was designed by Wallace K. Harrison. The first performance in the new house took place September 16, 1966. Since its original opening night in 1883, the Met has enhanced the lives of millions with its performances in New York, on national tours and concerts, and through radio broadcasts and telecasts.
The stamp was printed in the offset/intaglio process, with 50 stamps per pane.