At a Glance
- Muhammad Ali appears on a new U.S. commemorative Forever Stamp for the first time
- The stamp features a 1974 black-and-white photo of Ali in his iconic boxing pose
- 22 million stamps printed; once sold out, they won’t be reprinted
- Why it matters: The stamp cements Ali’s legacy as both sports legend and humanitarian, letting Americans mail letters with The Greatest’s image forever
Muhammad Ali once joked he should be a postage stamp because it was the only way he’d ever get licked. That quip becomes reality Thursday when the U.S. Postal Service unveils the Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp in Louisville, Kentucky, the champ’s birthplace.
A First for The Greatest
The stamp marks the first time Ali-three-time heavyweight champion, civil-rights icon and global humanitarian-has appeared on U.S. postage. Lonnie Ali, his widow of nearly 30 years, calls the honor an everlasting tribute.
“As sort of the guardian of his legacy, I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m ecstatic,” she told James O Connor Fields. “Because people, every time they look at that stamp, they will remember him.”
Each sheet of 20 stamps carries two images:
- A 1974 Associated Press photo of Ali in boxing gloves, staring straight into the camera
- A shot of Ali in a pinstripe suit, nodding to his activism and humanitarian work
The Postal Service printed 22 million stamps; when they’re gone, they’re gone. Because they are Forever Stamps, they will always cover First-Class Mail postage, no matter how rates rise.
From Idea to Envelope
Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS director of stamp services, says the project began shortly after Ali died in 2016. Postal rules require people on stamps to be deceased at least three years, with presidents the exception.
While the agency worked quietly, public enthusiasm grew. A friend of Ali launched the #GetTheChampAStamp campaign, adding momentum.
“We are really excited that the stars were able to align,” Bobb-Semple said.
Behind the scenes:
- The Citizen Stamps Advisory Committee, appointed by the postmaster general, reviews public suggestions quarterly
- About 20-25 commemorative stamps are issued each year
- Art directors refine designs; legal staff conduct rigorous reviews before approval
Antonio Alcalá, the stamp’s art director and designer, sorted through hundreds of photos before selecting the final AP image.
“Postage stamps are miniature works of art designed to reflect the American experience,” Alcalá said. “The Muhammad Ali stamps are a great example of that.”
Beyond the Ring
Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., converted to Islam in the 1960s and changed his name. He became a vocal critic of the Vietnam War and, in 1967, refused Army induction on religious grounds.
That decision:
- Cost him the heavyweight title
- Barred him from boxing for more than three years
- Led to a five-year prison sentence for draft evasion (later overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971)
Ali returned to the ring and, later in life, championed peace and philanthropy even while Parkinson’s disease limited his speech and movement. He died in 2016 at age 74.
Stamp as Messenger
Lonnie Ali believes the stamp extends her husband’s mission of compassion. “He did it one person at a time,” she said. “To use this stamp to reinforce the messaging in that life of connection” carries special weight.
With the nation politically divided, she feels Ali’s example remains vital.
“We have to mobilize Muhammad’s life and sort of engage in the same kinds of acts of kindness and compassion that he did every day,” she said.
Key Takeaways
- The Forever Stamp ensures Ali’s image stays in circulation indefinitely
- Collectors and everyday buyers alike are expected to snap up the 22 million copies
- The Thursday unveiling in Louisville will let fans purchase the stamp immediately after the first-day-of-issue ceremony
- Ali joins previous honorees such as fellow Olympic medalists, presidents and civil-rights leaders in the Postal Service’s commemorative series
