Jazz and Blues Singers: Billie Holiday Artist: Howard Koslow Medium: Oil on paper mounted to board Art director: Howard E. Paine First day of issue: September 17, 1994

Howard Koslow closely based this painting on a picture taken by William P. Gottlieb, a journalist who photographed hundreds of musicians during the 1930s and 1940s. Amazingly, when Gottlieb was contacted by the Postal Service, he was able to narrow down the year to 1940 or 1941, and the likely location to a nightclub on 52nd Street in Manhattan.

<< Return to Stamps