USPS Legends of Hollywood - Humphrey Bogart

USPS in 1997 issued a series of "Legends of Hollywood" stamps, among these being Humphrey Bogart, whose name is synonymous with the golden age of American film. Michael Deas, who illustrated the stamp, based the image on a movie poster produced for "The Big Sleep" (1946). Deas, who has won awards for his stamp artwork, also designed the Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Tennessee Williams stamps.

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Born on Christmas Day in 1899, Humphrey Deforest Bogart began his career as an assistant stage manager in the theater, becoming an actor by chance -- taking over for an actor who missed a performance. After that, he appeared in seven hit Broadway shows in a row culminating with his 1937 enormous success as Duke Mantee in Robert Sherwood's "The Petrified Forest", with Leslie Howard later reprising his role in the film version. With a career that included more than 75 films, he appeared in supporting roles in many Warner Bros. pictures, finally moving on by starring in such classics as "High Sierra", "Sahara", "The Maltese Falcon", and "Across The Pacific", both of which were directed by John Huston.

Then came "Casablanca", "To Have And Have Not", "The Big Sleep", "Key Largo" and many more. Bogart was nominated for an Academy Award for "Treasure Of The Sierra Madre" and "The Caine Mutiny", and finally won the Oscar for "The African Queen". "Bogie died more than 40 years ago -- in 1957 -- only to re-emerge as possibly the biggest star the motion picture industry has ever seen.

 Bogart joined Marilyn Monroe and James Dean as the third star in the Postal Service's "Legends of Hollywood" series, which showcased individuals who had a major impact on the development of American films.

USPS press release