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  • 32c Benjamin O. Davis Sr. single
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32c Benjamin O. Davis Sr. single

Object Details

Description
On October 25, 1940, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (1877-1970) became the first African-American general in U.S. History. Davis distinguished himself in a long military career that started when he was a volunteer in the Spanish-American War. As Brigadier General he was instrumental in changing the military's policies on segregation, and he instituted a proposal to retain African American service troops as combat solders.
The stamp was issued on January 28, 1997, in Washington, DC. Designed by Richard Sheaff of Norwood, Massachusetts, the stamp features an image of Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., on an inspection tour near the American front in France in August 1944. It was printed by the Banknote Corporation of America in the offset process.
This stamp is part of the Black Heritage Stamp Series. Initiated in 1978, this series issues a stamp featuring a notable Black American every February in conjunction with Black History Month, as well as at other times during the year.
Reference: Postal Bulletin (January 2, 1997).
Credit line
Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
January 28, 1997
Object number
1998.2008.506
Depicts
Benjamin O. Davis, American, 1877 - 1970
Type
Postage Stamps
Medium
paper; ink (multicolored); self-adhesive / lithography
Place
United States of America
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
Title
Scott Catalogue USA 3121
Topic
Military & Policing Forces
Contemporary (1990-present)
Black Heritage
U.S. Stamps
Record ID
npm_1998.2008.506
Usage
Usage conditions apply
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8db5fcab2-3f74-4821-9060-ff3fd9710af3
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Visit »

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

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