2020-03-09 Mon

The Republic of Mali issued a 250-franc airmail stamp was the world’s first stamp to feature the likeness of Marylin Monroe.

Mali is a landlocked country in northwestern Africa between Mauritania, Algeria, Niger and a host of smaller countries. Much of its northern territory is in the Sahara Desert. Philatelically Mali is known for issuing a host of colorful topical stamps. One of our favorites is the 250-franc airmail issued 27th July 1970, to commemorate the invention of the Lumiere process of color photography.

The stamp features a photograph of Auguste and Luis Lumiere and includes small inset photos of American movie stars Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe at the lower corners. Both actresses were quintessential cinematic sex symbols who died tragically early: Harlow at 26 and Monroe at 36. This was the first stamp in the world to picture Monroe, and it is a favorite of motion picture topical collectors.

Image Courtesy: linns.com

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