37c Arthur Ashe stamp

Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) was the first African American man to win Grand Slam tennis tournaments — Wimbledon and the United States and Australian Opens. Ashe became as renowned for his intellect, moral character, and commitment to social causes as for his prowess on the tennis courts of the world.

A month before Ashe died, "Sports Illustrated" named him "Sportsman of the Year" and ran this color photograph of Ashe by Michael O'Neill on the cover of the December 21, 1992, issue. This softly lit, photographic portrait shows a bespectacled Ashe holding a tennis racket in semi-profile against a black background.

The Postal Service issued this 37-cent Arthur Ashe commemorative stamp in a pressure- sensitive adhesive pane of twenty stamps on August 27, 2005, in Flushing, New York. Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, California designed the stamp.

Ashton-Potter (USA), Ltd., manufactured 75 million stamps in the offset process, with microprinting "USPS."

Reference: Postal Bulletin (July 21, 2005).

Scott Catalogue USA: 3936
mint

Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

Museum ID: 2006.2002.365