African Americans on stamps

February is Black History month.

In recognition of the many contributions African Americans have made to American life and culture, The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey is holding a exhibit of African Americans on stamps.

Titled "Black Mail" - A Celebration of African-American Stamps", the exhibit features posters, stamps and other memorabilia.

In 1940, Booker T. Washington became the first black American to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp. Since then, many other African Americans have been pictured on both U.S. and foreign stamps.

The Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections (ESPER) is a national stamp society which promotes the collecting of African Americans on stamps and the collecting of stamps by African Americans.

On their website there are pictures and background information on not only the Black Heritage series, but African Americans pictured on other U.S. stamps as well as world-wide issues honoring African Americans and Black History.

To visit their site, click here.