29c Bessie Smith Stamp

April 15 Singer and songwriter Bessie Smith, known as the Empress of the Blues, was born on this day in 1894. Smith was one of the most successful performers of blues and jazz in the 1920s and 1930s. Her songs often tackled social issues like economic inequality, imprisonment, racism, and women’s sexuality. This commemorative stamp was issued on September 17, 1994.

29c Bessie Smith single

Description: Jazz and blues legends were honored with the eight 29-cent stamps in Legends of American Music Stamp Series issued on September 17, 1994, in Greenville, Mississippi, at the Delta Blues Festival. The stamps feature Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing, Mildred Bailey, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, "Ma" Rainey, and Howlin' Wolf.; Bessie Smith (1894-1937), the Empress of the Blues, began singing in public as a child for pennies. In 1923, her first recording, "Downhearted Blues," sold an unprecedented 750,000 records. She recorded more than a hundred blues and popular songs, paving the way for future musicians.; Howard Koslow designed the images for Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing, Mildred Bailey, and Julian Allen designed the images for Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, "Ma" Rainey, and Howlin' Wolf. Ashton-Potter (USA), Ltd., printed The stamps using offset lithography.; Reference:; Postal Bulletin (September 1, 1994).; mint; 11 horizontal perforations x 10.8 vertical perforations

Data Source: National Postal Museum

Depicts: Bessie Smith, American, 1894 - 1937

Date: September 17, 1994

Credit line: Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

Medium: paper; ink (multicolored); adhesive / lithography

Type: Postage Stamps

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer