Muhammad Ali in Miniature
Designing a stamp worthy of "The Greatest"
The word “icon” gets thrown around a lot. But there are few more iconic figures of the 20th century than Muhammad Ali™. You can probably picture some of those iconic moments from his life. Whether it’s him standing triumphantly over Sonny Liston or lighting the torch at the 1996 Olympics, Ali is ingrained in American culture. It’s only fitting that he is being honored by appearing on another icon — a stamp from the U.S. Postal Service.
Known as “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion. In his life, he challenged the best fighters in the world — and the world itself. At a time when African Americans fought to have a voice, Ali spoke loud and clear about his beliefs, defying expectations and empowering people around the world on his way to becoming a globally celebrated cultural icon.
Making “The Greatest”
Designed in a checkerboard configuration on the pane, the stamps feature a black-and-white Associated Press photograph of Ali from 1974. “His good looks are apparent, and the direct eye contact is compelling,” says art director Antonio Alcalá, explaining why he chose the photo. “The stance and boxing gloves clearly communicate how he became an American sports icon.”
On the stamps, the name “ALI” alternating top to bottom, dark brown to red, suggests aspects of his boxing career: the capital letters of promotional posters, his dancing and legendary movement during his bouts, and the chants of “Ali! Ali! Ali! Ali!” that greeted him when he traveled the world.
“The greater the fame of the individual, the more people have an opinion of the ‘right’ way to represent that individual on a stamp,” notes Alcalá. “Ali, in his heyday, was arguably the most famous person on the planet. So, designing a stamp that would resonate with everyone was a challenging task.”
Fighting For His Beliefs
“There are many facets to Ali,” Alcalá says. “I felt it was important to represent him on the stamp as a boxer, but also to include a photo showing his non-boxing side.”
The selvage shows a black-and-white 1976 Associated Press photo of Ali in a pinstripe suit, a recognition of his wider cultural importance as an activist and humanitarian.