44c Black Heritage: Oscar Micheaux single

On June 22, 2010, in New York, New York, the Postal Service issued a 44-cent Oscar Micheaux commemorative stamp. The stamp, designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, is the 33rd stamp in the Black Heritage series.

Filmmaker Oscar Micheaux wrote, directed, produced, and distributed more than forty movies during the first half of the twentieth century. An ambitious, larger-than-life figure, Micheaux thrived at a time when African-American filmmakers were rare, venues for their work were scarce, and support from the industry did not exist. Micheaux's entrepreneurial spirit and independent vision continues inspiring new generations of filmmakers and artists.

The stamp features a stylized portrait of Oscar Micheaux by artist Gary Kelley, Cedar Falls, Iowa. The artwork is based on one of the few surviving photographs of Micheaux, a portrait that appeared in his 1913 novel, "The Conquest."

Avery Dennison printed 80 million stamps using the gravure process. The stamp was issued in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of twenty.

Reference: Postal Bulletin (May 20, 2010)