G2101

Black Heritage

Percy Lavon Julian - Chemist

Collins Cover Announcement 

PERCY LAVON JULIAN

Percy Julian was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of drugs used in medicine. He graduated from DePauw University in 1920 and received a Master's Degree at Harvard in 1923. His Ph.D. was earned at the University of Vienna in 1931.

He won acclaim for his synthesis of cortisone for arthritis and also developed a drug for glaucoma. He worked extensively with the soybean plant and developed many products from it including a chemical used in fire extinguishers for flame suppression. He was inducted into the prestigious National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990.

My hand-painted cachet has a large, oval portrait of Julian. A field of soybeans represents the plant that he spent so much time developing for practical uses. In the foreground are two chemical flasks with colored liquids. At the rear are an eye chart symbolizing his work in that field. Also, civilian and military applications for his fire extinguishing contributions are represented.

The stamp has a First Day bullseye postmark from Chicago. A distinguished chemist and inventor -- Percy Layon Julian. Item #G2101. $10.75.