April 2025 – Josephine Baker

With Josephine Baker, Monaco’s philately honors not only a great entertainer but also an extraordinary personality of the 20th century who passed away 50 years ago. The artist, born in the USA, became a star in Paris during the 1920s. Her performance in the legendary banana skirt made her famous – but behind the dazzling facade, there was much more. Baker was regarded as a style icon of the “Roaring Twenties”: with glamorous stage shows, Art Deco elegance, and her unmistakable style, she shaped the image of the modern woman. She combined fashion and self-presentation with a powerful message: independence and freedom of expression.

During World War II, she worked for the French intelligence service, smuggling information and supporting the Resistance. For her efforts, she received high military honors, including the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d’honneur. Later, she remained politically active—fighting against racism and for equality. By adopting twelve children of different backgrounds, she aimed to set an example of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. In 1963, she was the only woman to speak alongside Martin Luther King in uniform at the March on Washington.

In her later years, Josephine Baker lived in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin near Monaco. Princess Grace Patricia (Grace Kelly) supported her both financially and as a friend. When Baker ran into difficulties in 1975 before her comeback in Paris, Grace Kelly provided her with an apartment in Monaco.

Today, Josephine Baker is regarded not only as a symbol of glamour but also as an icon of courage, conviction, and humanity. In 2021, France honored her as the first Black woman to be inducted into the Panthéon. The stamp dedicated to her commemorates not just an artist, but a woman who made history.