About This Stamp
The Postal Service honored Joe Louis (1914–1981) with a commemorative stamp issued on June 22, 1993, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. This issuance marked the 55th anniversary of the 1938 Louis-Schmeling rematch, in which Louis knocked-out Germany's Max Schmeling in the first round. Fought under the shadow of Hitler's march into Europe, the fight took on the broader symbolic significance of democracy against fascism.
The design is based on a classic photograph of Louis, in a boxer's stance, with his fists held high. This stamp was the first U.S. postage stamp to commemorate the sport of boxing.
Joe Louis (1914–1981) was born Joseph Louis Barrow (also known as the Brown Bomber) in Lafayette, Alabama, on May 13, 1914. He began his boxing career in Detroit, winning 43 of 44 amateur bouts by knockout. He became a professional boxer in 1934 in Chicago, when he knocked-out Jack Kracken in the first round. Louis won 63 of 66 professional contests, 49 by knockout, 13 by decision on points, and one through disqualification of his opponent.
In 1993, Louis held three heavyweight boxing records including the longest heavyweight title holder (11 years, 9 months), a 25 times title defender (more than the preceding eight heavyweight champions combined), and first round knockouts of five opponents. Some of Louis's most memorable fights were with Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Jack Sharkey, James Braddock, Max Baer, Jersey Joe Walcott, Billy Conn, and Two-Ton Tony Gelento.
Louis died in Las Vegas on April 12, 1981. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Designed by Thomas Blackshear of Novato, California, the stamps were printed in the offset/intaglio process by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and issued in sheets of 50.
Stamp Artist
Thomas Blackshear II
Thomas Blackshear II was born in Texas and grew up in Georgia. He pursued his interest in art—“Drawing was all I ever wanted to do,” he says—throughout high school. After graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago in 1977, he went to work for Hallmark Cards, where he met and served as an apprentice to illustrator Mark English. In 1980, Blackshear became head illustrator for Godbold/Richter Studios. He began his freelance career in 1982.
Known for his dramatic lighting and sensitivity to mood, Blackshear has produced illustrations for stamps, posters, collectors’ plates, magazines, greeting cards, calendars, books, and advertising. His clients have included Anheuser-Busch, Disney Pictures, Coca-Cola, Jim Henson Studios, Lee Jeans, George Lucas Studios, Milton Bradley, Seven-Up, and Universal Studios.
In 2006, Blackshear’s art was exhibited in Rome in a show sponsored by the Vatican. Known for his best-selling designs for figurines in the Thomas Blackshear’s Ebony Visions collection, he also created the artwork for the “Master Place” collection for DaySpring Cards.
Blackshear’s numerous stamp designs for the U.S. Postal Service® include five stamps in the Black Heritage series, most recently the Dorothy Height stamp (2017). In addition, his artwork has been featured on more than a dozen stamps commemorating Classic Films (1990), Jazz: Legends of American Music series (1995), Classic Movie Monsters (1997), James Baldwin (2004), Mother Teresa (2010), Rosa Parks (2013), and Chief Standing Bear (2023).
Twenty-eight of his depictions of famous Black Americans are featured in the 1992 Black Heritage series commemorative book entitled I Have A Dream. Blackshear has received many awards for his art including a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators. This freelance artist, teacher, and lecturer currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.