NAACP Birthday Ball with Count Basie

A glowing orange streetlamp and crescent moon illuminate a deep blue, star-filled New York night in Louise E. Jefferson’s striking poster for an NAACP Birthday Ball featuring Count Basie and his Orchestra. Cream event placards float above a dark city skyline, creating a rhythmic composition of blue, orange, black, and warm white.

Jefferson’s combination of hand lettering, bold typography, simplified architecture, and limited color gives the poster an unmistakable period character. Created for an NAACP celebration at the Golden Gate Ballroom on Lenox Avenue, the design connects the visual culture of New York nightlife with the organization’s historic fundraising celebrations and the music of Count Basie.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Louise E. Jefferson
• Title: NAACP Birthday Ball with Count Basie
• Original title: N.A.A.C.P. birthday ball, Feb. 26th, Golden Gate Ballroom, Count Basie and his Orchestra
• Series: Visual materials from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People records
• Date: 1943 (LOC catalog); event identified by LOC exhibition as February 26, 1940
• Period: 1940s
• Place of Origin: New York, United States
• Medium: Print (poster)

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.