On 16 August, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service added another collectible postage stamp to its Legends of Hollywood commemorative stamps series with their dedication of the first class 41-cent James Stewart stamp. Stewart appears on the 13th stamp in the Legends of Hollywood stamp series.

The Career of Jimmy Stewart

According to the USPS James Stewart Backgrounder, Stewart was born May 20, 1908, in Indiana, PA.

From the time he was a child through his attendance of Princeton University, Stewart acted in various theatrical productions. As a member of the University Players in Massachusetts, Stewart became lifelong friends with Henry Fonda.

The Internet Movie Database lists Stewart's first film as Art Trouble (1934). From this uncredited beginning, Stewart quickly rose to stardom in movies such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Destry Rides Again (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), and The Philadelphia Story (1940), for which Stewart won an Oscar.

Stewart's Hollywood career was temporarily interrupted by his service in United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Stewart served as a B-24 combat pilot and squadron commander on missions over Germany. He retired as a brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve.

After his WW II service, Stewart returned to Hollywood with his memorable performance in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). a move that has become a favorite during the Christmas holidays.

Memorable roles continued to flow from Stewart in such movies as Harvey (1950); Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), and Vertigo (1958); The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962); and a smaller but effective role in the John Wayne and Lauren Bacall classic The Shootist (1976). Stewart continued to act in movies (sometimes doing voice work in animated features) until 1992.

James Stewart died on 2 July, 1997 in Los Angeles, California.

USPS James Stewart Stamp Design

The James Stewart Legends of Hollywood stamp was designed Drew Struzan based on a picture taken during the filming of The Stratton Story (1949). This picture was selected by Stewart's family from among several shots presented to them by USPS Art DIrector Phil Jordan.

The selvage art (or the art in the surplus margin around the sheet of stamps), shows Stewart as Jefferson Smith from a still taken from the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).