2022 Edmonia Lewis - Black Heritage Forever First Class Postage Stamps

Description:

To honor trailblazing African American and Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis, a fitting addition the long-running Black Heritage stamp series.

Pictures a casein-on-wood portrait of Lewis based on a photograph taken in Boston sometime between 1864 and 1871.

 The Black Heritage Series is one of the USPS’s longest-running stamp series.  It began on February 1, 1978, with the issue of the 13¢ Harriet Tubman stamp (US #1744).  Since then, the USPS has issued a new stamp in the series every year.  A number of them have even been released in February in recognition of Black History Month.

Mary Edmonia Lewis (c. July 4, 1844 – September 17, 1907) was an African Native American artist who specialized in sculpture.  She was one of the only black female artists of her time and the first African American sculptor to be recognized for their work.  She used her mixed heritage as inspiration for her sculptures throughout her life.