m^ m im^Hii iU/riA ii riA Background and Technical Information for Collectors mm Biological LaboialJI^ NOV 2 8 ^96^ VW)ODS HOLE. I*ASS. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 111 DUCK STAMP DATA Background and Technical Information for Collectors By Edna N. Sater Office of Information Washington 1961 United States Department of the Interior, Stewart L. Udali, Secretary Fish and Wildlife Service, Clarence F. Pautzke, Commissioner Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Daniel H. Janzen, Director When the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife Service, launched a special campaign in March 1960 to raise funds for the purchase of wetlands for migra- tory waterfowl by a post season sale of the 1959-60 issue of Federal "duck stamps." this series of annual revenue stamps was brought into national focus. ."Mthough the 4-month campaign, designed to bolster sales that had declined during the regular hunting season, was aimed primarily at duck hunters and conservationists, it aroused widespread interest among stamp collectors, many of whom had not previously collected duck stamps. Numerous requests have been received from collectors for back- ground information on these stamps. This booklet has been prepared to answer such inquiries as well as the many received from regular collectors for philatelic data. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. - Price 30 cents DUCK STAMP DATA Background and Technical Information for Collectors In the 25-year period since the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act became effective on July 1, 1934, through June 30, 1959, a total of 32,592,841 Federal "duck stamps" has been sold. What is this stamp? Who buys it? And why? The formal name of the stamp is the Migra- tory Bird Hunting Stamp, but it is familiarly called the Federal "duck stamp." It is a reve- nue stamp, and the funds received from its sales are used by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Under the provisions of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of March 16, 1934, every individual who has attained the age of 16 years and who hunts migratory waterfowl (wild ducks, geese, and brant) during the seasons prescribed by Federal regulations, issued by the Secretary of the Interior, is required to have on his per- son a Federal duck stamp of current issue which he has validated by writing his signature in ink across its face. Enactment of a modern "Stamp Act" in 1934 In 1934 the Congress passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act which has contributed as much to wildlife conservation history as did its predecessor of colonial days to political his- tory. It was enacted because sportsmen and conservationists were aroused to action by the rapid decrease in the numbers of wild ducks and geese. This decrease was brought about by overshooting and a protracted drought which existed in the heart of the migratory waterfowl breeding area for a number of years. Drainage had destroyed millions of acres of marsh and water areas formerly inhabited bv waterfowl, fishes, and fur animals. Much of the land so drained proved to be practically useless for farming or for any other purpose. Thus, drainage in the early 1900's, followed by drought in the 1930's, dried up tremendous areas of what had been important nesting grounds in the north, resting areas along the flyways, and wintering places in the south. The new law was welcomed as a means of providing funds for the conservation of our migratory waterfowl in order to remedy those mistakes of the past by restoring some of the wasted land to the country's wildlife as well as to purchase other marshlands not yet destroyed. Provisions of the original Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act Under this act, which became effective on July 1, 1934, any person who has attained the age of 16 years and who hunts wild ducks, geese, or brant must carry on his person an unexpired Federal migratory-bird hunting stamp across the face of which he has written his sig- nature in ink. Possession of this stamp quali- fies the hunter as a legal wildfowler, provided he has a State hunting license. Only one stamp is required regardless of the number of States in which the sportsman shoots during the op)en season. Persons who collect migratory birds for scientific purposes must also have the stamp, in addition to the Federal scientific collecting permit prescribed. The penalty provided for any violation of the act is a fine of not to ex- ceed $500, 6 months' imprisonment, or both. The act provided that not less than 90 per- cent of the total proceeds received from the sale of the stamps could be used by the Fish and Wildlife Service to supplement other funds for the purchase, development, administration, and 1 maintenance of waterfowl refuges throughout the country. The remaining 10 percent was to be used for the printing and distribution of the stamps and enforcement of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act and other Federal laws for migratory-bird conservation. Amendments to the act Several amendments to the act in recent years have increased the cost of the stamp twice and changed the original 90-10 percent division of the funds. In August 1949 the Congress enacted Public Law 222 (81st Congress, 1st Session) which raised the price of the stamp to $2 to offset rising costs encountered by the Fish and Wild- life Service in its efforts to expand its waterfowl conservation work. On October 20, 1951, in response to demands for a stepped-up law enforcement program, Pubhc Law 182 (82d Congress, 1st Session) was enacted which authorized an increase in expenditure of duck stamp funds for enforce- ment and administration from 10 percent to 15 percent of the annual receipts. On August 1, 1958, the President approved S. 2617, now Public Law 85-585 (85th Congress, 2d Session) which increased the cost of the stamp to $3, effective July 1, 1959, and ear- marked the proceeds from stamp sales, less the expenses of the Post Office Department in con- nection with "engraving, printing, issuing, sell- ing, and accounting for" the stamps and the moneys received from their sale, for the acquisi- tion of land for migratory bird refliges, effective July 1, 1960. Waterfowl protective legislation The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act was but one of a series of legislative steps which the United States has taken to conserve its water- fowl. The Migratory Bird Treaty with Great Britain in 1916 (in behalf of Canada) placed our Federal Government under solemn obliga- tions to care for the migratory birds while in this country. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 recognized this obligation by protecting the birds from destruction by the gun, except under prescribed Federal regulations. Then, when it became apparent that caring for the birds included also the responsibility of providing places where they could breed, feed, rest, and find wintering grounds. Congress 2 passed the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 which authorized a program of acquisi- tion of land and water areas as inviolate sanc- tuaries. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 supplemented and supported the Act of 1929 by providing funds for the pur- chase and maintenance of areas for migratory waterfowl refuges. In 1936 the provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty were extended to include Mexico. Duck stamp dollars build "duck hotels" By requiring waterfowl hunters to purchase the duck stamps, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act has created a continuing source of funds for waterfowl restoration. As a result, sportsmen have contributed many millions of dollars which the Federal Government has used to save waterfowl and the sport of wildfowling for future generations through the acquisition, development, and maintenance of a system of National Waterfowl Refuges ' administered by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife of the Fish and Wildlife Service. This is the Federal agency charged by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with the custodianship of waterfowl while they remain within the boundaries of this coun- try. These refuges, or "duck hotels," spotted strategically along the flight paths of the birds, give sanctuary for varying periods of time to the wild ducks and .geese on their semiannual migrations to and from their northern breeding grounds. Issuance of the stamp The duck stamp is nearly twice the size of a special delivery stamp. It may be purchased singly, in blocks, or in complete sheets from all first- and second-class post offices. Philatelists who are interested in particularly fine, well- centered copies, may obtain their stamps from the Philatelic Sales Agency, Post Office Depart- ment, Washington 25, D.C. The first issue in the annual series went on sale on August 14, 1934, at SI each. The first of the S2 stamps became available on Septem- ber 1, 1949; the first of the $3 stamps went on sale July 1, 1959. ' For the complete story of how duck stamp funds have been expended, see Duck Stamps and Wildlife Refuges, Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 37, for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. at 20 cents per copy. Normally, each year, the first day of sale is July I, with the stamp remaining valid until the end of the fiscal year on the following June 20. The beginning sale date has been set at July 1 so that duck hunters who plan to be in the marshes on the opening day of the water- fowl season may buy their duck stamps well in advance. The sale of these stamps in their first year of issue amounted to 635,001. Since 1951, more than 2 million stamps have been sold annually, with thousands being purchased by persons who never hunt. Scarcity of the early issues Early issues, previous to 1941, are exceedingly rare. This is due to the fact that the law- specified when the stamp was first issued in 1934 that all unsold stamps should be destroyed after the year of issue had expired. The Depart- ment of the Interior Appropriation Act for fiscal year 1942, however, carried a provision which permitted all unsold stamps to be turned over to the Philatelic Agency of the Post Office De- partment in Washington, D.C., and "Therein placed on sale until disposed of or until the Congiess otherwise provides." Private collectors or stamp dealers are the only source of supply for the early issues which now have a monetary value far in excess of their original cost. Selection of the annual duck stamp design Annually the Fish and Wildlife Service con- ducts a public contest open to all interested artists for the purpose of selecting the new- design for next year's duck stamp. The opening of the contest is announced early in July and all entries must reach the Service's headquarters office in Washington, D.C., on or before the first Monday of November, of each year." The judging of the competition takes place some time during November inasmuch as the design must be in the Post Office Department by December 1 so that the Bureau of Engraving and Print- ing can have plenty of time to work on making the stamp. Artists are given a wide latitude in the choice of medium — pen and ink, oil, watercolor, etch- ing, pencil, etc., and in their subject. However, - A leaflet entitled "Rules for the Annual Federal Duck Stamp Contest" may be obtained free of charge by writing to the Oflice of Information, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D.C. all designs must be in black and white and not larger than 5x7 inches. The design selected for each year's stamp is chosen by a judging committee of art and water- fowl authorities. Prior to 1949, outstanding wildlife artists were invited to submit entries and the selection was made from this limited group. In 1949 these limitations were lifted and a public contest was started to give all wild- life artists a chance to compete. Although the winning artist does not receive any direct compensation except an album con- taining a sheet of the stamp he designed, the distinction is unique and worthwhile. Many of the winners have capitalized on their designs by selling autographed prints. All such projects, however, are subject to the terms of an agree- ment which the artist must sign with the Fish and Wildlife Service when he submits his con- test entry. How the duck stamps are manufactured [This section has been prepared by George VV. Brett. Vice President, Bureau Issues Association, Washington, D.C] After the design is selected by the judging committee, it is sent to the Post Office Depart- ment (on or before December 1 of each year) which, in turn, sends it to the Bureau of En- graving and Printing in Washington, D.C, for the actual production of the stamp. One of the Bureau's artists first prepares a model in stamp size which combines the win- ning design with the necessary inscriptions. When this model has been approved jointly by the Postmaster General and the Fish and Wild- life Ser\'ice (through its Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife), a steel die is engraved, using the approved model as a guide. When the die is completed, proofs are taken from it in several colors, as suggested by the service. After the Service approves the color it deems best, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing prepares the necessary plates for printing. Printing was performed on 4-plate flatbed power presses to and including the 1958-59 issue. Since that time printing has been per- formed on new sheet-fed rotary presses which carry two plates and can print either single- color or multicolor, using from one to three inks at one passage. All duck stamps to and includ- ing the 1953-54 issue were printed by what is known as the "wet process," and all those since by the "dry process." The essential difference is that dampened ungummed paper is used in the former method and dry pregummed paper in the latter. Two changes in the layout of the plates have been made since 1934. Beginning with the 1946-47 issue, the plates were laid out with central vertical and horizontal gutters, dividing the plates of 112 subjects into four panes of 28 stamps. This permitted the complete perfora- tion of the stamps on all four sides whereas formerly there was a straight edge on one or two sides of 10 out of every 28 stamps. With the change from printing by flatbed presses to the new rotary presses in 1959, the size of the plates was increased to 120 subjects to better utilize the new multicolor method of printing. Stamps from the new plates are issued to post offices in sheets of 30, instead of the former 28. Beginning with the 1946-47 issue also, the inscription "It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl unless you sign your name in ink on the face of this stamp" has been placed on the back of each stamp by offset printing. Beginning with the 1958-59 issue, a slogan has been added to the back plus the inscription quoted above and this may be changed each year. The stamp designs are 1.21 inches vertical by 1.82 inches horizontal. The stamps are printed on unwatermarked paper and are perforated 1 1 .X 1 1 . Duck stamp collection on display at Smithsonian In March 1955 the Fish and Wildlife Service transferred its complete set of full sheets of the annual series of Migratory Bird Hunting Stamps to the Smithsonian Institution for public display in the National Postage Stamp Collection in the Old National Museum Building in Wash- ington, D.C., housed in the Arts and Industries building on the Mall. Accompanying the stamps was a complete set of die proofs of all the stamps. At that time the Service's official collection consisted of 21 sheets of 28 stamps each, dating from the 1934-35 issue, when the duck-stamp requirement became law, through 1954-55. To keep the collection up to date, an agreement has been made between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Smithsonian Institution for the former agency to add a sheet of each year's new issue and a die proof to the Smithsonian collection. The official presentation and acceptance of the collection took place on February 10, 1958, at a ceremony held in the office of Dr. Leonard Carmichael, Secretary of the Smithsonian, who accepted the collection from Ross Leffier, Assist- ant Secretary of the Interior. Illustrations of duck stamps now permitted Prior to September 2, 1958, when Public Law 85-921, 85th Congress, H.R. 9370, was approved, it was illegal to reproduce a picture of the actual duck stamp since these stamps were listed as revenue stamps. Public Law 85-921 now permits: The printing, publishing, or importation, or the mak- ing or importation of the necessary plates for such printing or publishing, of black and while illustrations of postage and revenue stamps and other obligations and securities of the United States, and postage and revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and other obligations or securities of any foreign government, bank, or corporation for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustra- tions of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numis- matic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or al- bums). Such illustrations, except those of stamps, shall be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of such obli- gation or security. The negatives and plates used in making the illustrations shall be destroyed after their final use for the purpose for which they were made. The reproduction of the duck stamps in their original color is thus prohibited. Mallards dropping in. 1934-35 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Mallard. Design: Two mallards — a hen and a drake — dropping to a landing in a windy marsh. Artist: ]a\ N. (Ding) Darling, famous cartoonist and noted conservationist, head of the Bureau of Biological Survey (one of the predecessors of the Fish and Wildlife Service) fittingly de- signed the first of the annual series of migratory waterfowl hunting stamps issued by the Federal Government. Philatelic Data Color: Blue. Designer: Alvin R. Meissner. Engravers: Vignette, Carl T. Arlt; frame, lettering, and numerals, Frank Lamasure. Plates issued: 129199, 129200, 129201, 129202. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of Agriculture. Void after June 30, 1935." First day of sale: August 14, 1934. Qiiantity sold: 635,001. First Duck Stamp. Three canvasbacks. 1935-36 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Canvasback. Design: Three canvasbacks in their first sweep through the air after taking off from a placid surface interspersed with water plants. Artist: Frank W. Benson, noted American painter of Salem, Mass., who has been called the dean of American duck etchers. Philatelic Data Color: Rose lake. Designer: Alvin R. Meissner. Engravers: Vignette, Carl T. Arlt; frame, lettering, and numerals, Donald R. McLeod. Plates issued: 131980, 131981, 131982, 131983. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of Agriculture. Void after June 30, 1936." First day of sale: ]\i\y 1, 1935. Qiiantitj' sold: 448,204. Second Duck Stamp. Canada geese. 1936-37 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Canada goose. Design: Three Canada geese on the wing, with a background of cumulus clouds. (Note the band on the right leg of the center bird. By means of numbered bands, the Fish and Wildlife Service can trace the migration routes of migratory birds.) Artist: Richard E. Bishop, sportsman and artist of Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pa., who is inter- nationally famous for his wildlife etchings on glass and china. Philatelic Data Color: Brown black. Designer: Alvin R. Meissner. Engravers: Vignette, James R. Lowe; frame, lettering, and numerals, Frank Lamasure. Plates issued: 134317, 134318. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of Agriculture. Void after June 30, 1937." First day of sale: }u\y 1, 1936. Qiiantity sold: 603,623. Third Duck Stamp. 596582 O -61 -2 Five scaups. 1937-38 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Greater scaup. Design: Five scaups — three males and two females — otherwise known as bluebills and broad- bills, coming in to a feeding area. The scene, typical of waterfowl feeding grounds along the Atlantic coast, is off Great South Bay, New York. Artisl: J. D. Knap, New York City sportsman and artist, famous for his work with wildlife. Philatelic Data Color: Light green. Designer: Alvin R. Meissner. Engravers: Vignette, James R. Lowe; frame, Donald R. McLeod; lettering, Donald R. McLeod, Wm. B. Wells, and Alton Payne; numerals, Alton Payne. Plate issued: 136267. Inserihed: "U.S. Department of Agriculture. Void after June 30, 1938." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1937. Quantity sold: 783,039. Fourth Duck Stamp. '.\ r M>L\ / /,^ Pintail drake and hen. 1938-39 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Pintail. Design: A pintail drake and hen, coming in for a landing. Artist: Roland Clark of New York City, distinguished etcher of wildlife subjects. Philatelic Data Color: Light violet. Designer: Alvin R. Meissner. Engravers: Vignette, James R. Lowe: frame, Donald R. McLeod; lettering, Donald R. McLeod and James T. Vail; numerals, James T. Vail. Plate issued: 138602. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of Agriculture. Void after June 30, 1939." First day of sale: July 1, 1938. Qiiantitr sold: 1,002.715. Fifth Duck Stamp. ■■y p^^ ^^* Green-winged teal. 1939-40 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Green-winged teal. Design: A male and female green-winged teal standing at a marsh edge, with five teals descending for a landing in the background. Artist: Lynn Bogue Hunt, one of America's foremost wildlife artists. Philatelic Data Color: Chocolate. Designer: William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; frame, Wm. B. Wells; lettering and numerals, George L. Huber. Plate issued: 141428. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1940." (Note: The Bureau of Biological Survey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture was transferred by Presidential order to the Department of the Interior on July 1, 1939. On July 1, 1940, the Bureau of Biological Survey and the Bureau of Fisheries were merged in the Department of the Interior to form the Fish and Wildlife Service.) First day of sale: ]\i\y 1, 1939. Qiiantity sold: 1,111 ,56 1 . Sixth Duck Stamp. 10 A pair of black ducks. 1940-41 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Black duck. Design: This design shows a pair of black ducks flying down wind over a marsh area. Wild rice is shown in the background. Artist: Francis L. Jacques, whose illustrations appear in Birds of Minnesota, Florida Bird Life, and other books, and who has painted many backgrounds for habitat groups in natural history museums in New York City and Minneapolis. Philatelic Data Color: Sepia. Designer: Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; frame, lettering, and numerals, James T. Vail. Plates issued: 143743, 143776. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1941." First day of sale: }u\\ 1, 1940. Qiiantity sold: 1,260,810. Seventh Duck Stamp. II A family of ruddy ducks. 1941-42 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Ruddy duck. Design: A male and female ruddy duck with their brood swimming at the edge of a marsh. Artist: E. R. Kalmbach, a well-known painter of wildlife subjects, who was also nationally known as the head of the Fish and Wildlife Service's research laboratory at Denver, Colo., before his retirement. Philatelic Data Color: Brown carmine. Designer: Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Charles A. Brooks; frame, lettering, and numerals. Axel W. Christensen. Plates issued- 146271, 146282. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1942." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1941. Quantity sold: 1,439,967. Eighth Duck Stamp. 12 Widgeons. 1942-43 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Widgeon. Design: The design shows a pair of widgeons, or baldpates, at the edge of a coastal marsh, with a second drake coming in to join them. Artist: A. Lassell Ripley of Le.xington, Mass., famous for his wildlife etchings and paintings. Philatelic Data Color: Brown. Designer: William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Carl T. Arlt; outline frame, lettering, and numerals, George L. Huber. Plates issued: 149599, 149600. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1943." First day of sale: ]u\\ 1, 1942. Qiiantity sold: 1,383,629. Ninth Duck Stamp. 13 Wood ducks. 1943-44 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Wood duck. Design: Two wood ducks in flight. Artist: Walter E. Bohl of Wisconsin. Several of Mr. Bohl's etchings are now in a permanent collection in the National Gallery of Art at Washington, D.C. Philatelic Data Color: Indian red. Designer: Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Charles A. Brooks; outline frame, lettering, and numerals, John S. Edmondson. Plates issued: 152826, 152827. Inscribed "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1944." First day of sale: July 1, 1943. Quantity sold: 1,169,352. Tenth Duck Stamp. 14 .4^-Try White-fronted geese. 1944-45 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: White-fronted goose. Design: Three white-fronted geese, part of a flock coming in. Artist: Waker A. Weber, of Vienna, Va., well-known wildlife artist, formerly Chief Scientific Illustrator with the National Park Service, has done considerable art work for the National Geographic Magazine. Birds of Minnesota, Fading Trails, Meeting the Mammals, and Wolves of North America, contain his illustrations. Many of the Wildlife Conservation Stamps issued annually by the National Wildlife Federation are the work of Mr. Weber. Philatelic Data Color: Red-orange. Designer: William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; frame, lettering, and numerals, George L. Huber. Plates issued: 155590, 155603. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1945." First daj of sale: July 1, 1944. Quantity sold- 1,487,029. Eleventh Duck Stamp. 596582 O -61 -3 15 m> Shovelers. 1945-46 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Shoveler. Design: a female and two male shovelers in flight. Artist: Owen J. Gromme, curator of birds and mammals at the Milwaukee Public Museum in Milwaukee, Wis. Philatelic Data Color: Black and white. Designer: Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; outline frame, lettering, and numerals. John S. Edmondson. Plates issued: 157248, 157249. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1946." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1945. Qiumtity sold: 1,725,505. Twelfth Duck Stamp. 16 , /// Redheads. 1946-47 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Redhead. Design: Four redheads — a female and three males — riding the water with another male alighting. Artist: Robert W. Hines, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly with the Ohio Division of Conservation and Natural Resources, now staff artist of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Philatelic Data Color: Medium dark maroon-brown. Designer: William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; lettering, frame, and numerals, John S. Edmondson. Plates issued: 158448, 158449, 158456, 158457; back plate 47510 (Offset). Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. \'oid after June 30, 1947." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1946. Qiiantity sold: 2,016,819. Thirteenth Duck Stamp. 17 Snow geese. 1947-48 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Snow goose. Design: Two snow geese in flight. Artist: Jack Murray, art director for Outdoors Magazine in Boston, Mass. Philatelic Data Color: Black on white. Designer: Victor S. McCIoskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Arthur Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numerals, .\xel W. Christensen. Plates issued: 159461, 159462, 159463, 159464. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1948." First day of sale: ]\i\y 1, 1947. Quantity sold: \ ,122 fill Fourteenth Duck Stamp. Buffleheads aloft. 1948-49 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Bufflehead. Design: Three buffleheads, two male and one female, in flight. Artist: Maynard Reece, staff artist and museum assistant, Iowa State Department of History and Archives, Des Moines, Iowa. Philatelic Data Color: A brilliant light blue. Designers: Central design by Maynard Reece; frame and lettering by Robert L. Miller, Jr. Engravers: Vignette by Arthur W. Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numeral by Axel W. Christensen. Plates issued: 160099, 160100, 160101, 160102. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1949." First day of sale: ]u\\ 1, 1948. Quantity sold: 2,127,598. Fifteenth Duck Stamp. 19 Common goldeneyes. 1949-50 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Common goldeneye. Design: The ori£;inal sketch, a black and white wash drawing, shows a male and female goldeneye winging in to a quiet cove to view the courtship antics of two male ducks on the water. The scene is Leech Lake, Minn. Artist: "Roge" E. Preuss, freelance artist and decoy designer, 1724 Park Avenue, Minneapolis. Minn. Philatelic Data Color: A brilliant green. Designers: Central design by Roger E. Preuss; frame and lettering by Robert L. Miller. Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; frame, lettering, and numerals, John S. Edmondson. Plates issued: 160790, 160791, 160792, 160793. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1950. $2." First day of sale: September 1, 1949. Quantity sold: 1,9.54,734. Sixteenth Duck Stamp; first of the $2 stamps. 20 Trumpeters. 1950-51 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Trumpeter swan. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, pictures two trumpeter swans flying over the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Artist: Walter A. Weber, of Vienna, Va. (Mr. Weber is the first former duck stamp artist to win the competition a second time. His design of the white-fronted goose was used for the 1944-45 stamp.) Philatelic Data Color: A brilliant bluish purple. Designers: Central design by Walter A. Weber; frame and lettering by Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Arthur A. Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numerals, Reuben K. Barrick. Plates issued: 161533, 161534, 161535, 161536. Inscribed- "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1951. $2." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1950. Quantity sold: 1,903,644. Seventeenth Duck Stamp; second $2 stamp. 21 - .S. X Two gadwalls. 1951-52 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Gadwall. Design: The original slcetch, a black and white drawing, shows two gadwalls jumping from a pond. Artist: Maynard Reece, staff artist and museum assistant for the Iowa State Department of History and Archives, Des Moines, Iowa. (Mr. Reece is the second former duck stamp artist to win the competition a second time. His design of three buffleheads was used on the 1948-49 stamp.) Philatelic Data Color: A dark or smoke gray. Designers: Central design by Maynard A. Reece; frame and lettering by William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; outline, frame, lettering, and numerals, Reuben K. Barrick. Plates issued: 162125, 162126, 162127, 162128. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1952. $2." First day of sale: }\i\y 1, 1951. Quantity sold: 2,167,767. Eighteenth Duck Stamp; third $2 stamp. 22 Harlequins. 1952-53 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Harlequin duck. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, shows two harlequin ducks — a drake and a hen — flying against high waves. Artist: John H. Dick, of Di.xie Plantation, Mesa;ett. S.C. Philatelic Data Color: A reduced red shade of blue, sometimes referred to in the stamp collecting field as a Lilac Blue. Designers: Central design by John H. Dick; frame and lettering by Robert L. Miller who also added necessary detail to the central design to make it suitable for bank note engraving. Engravers: Vignette, George A. Gundersen; frame, lettering, and numerals, John S. Edmondson. Plate Number's: 162602 162603, 162604, 162605. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1952. S2. Harlequin Ducks." (This is the first duck stamp to have the name of the species imprinted on it.) First day of sale: July 1, 1952. Qitanti{y sold: 2,296,628. Nineteenth Duck Stamp; fourth S2 stamp. 23 Early express. 1953-54 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Blue-winged teal. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, features five blue-winged teal in flight over bulrush. Artist: Clayton B. Seagears, Director of Conservation Education, New York Conservation De- partment, Albany, N.Y. Philatelic Data Color: Maroon. Designers: Central design by Clayton B. Seagears; frame and lettering by William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Arthur W. Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numerals, Robert J. Jones. Plate Numbers: 163622, 163623, 163624, 163625. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1954. $2. Blue- Winged Teal." First day of sale: July 1, 1953. Qiiantity sold: 2,271,430. Twentieth Duck Stamp; fifth $2 stamp. 24 Ring-necked ducks. 1954-55 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Ring-necked duck. Design: The original sketch, a black and white watercolor, features two ring-necked ducks — a drake and a hen — "slanting in" for a landing. Artist: Harvey D. Sandstrom, 7639 East Superior Street, Duluth, Minn. Philatelic Data Color: Black and white. Designers: Central design by Harvey D. Sandstrom; frame ami Icttrrin^ l)\ Xicior S. MrCloskcy. Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; frame, lettering, and numerals, George L. Huber. Plate Numbers: 164744, 164745, 164746, 164747. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1955. $2. Ring-necked Duck." First day of sale: July 1, 1954. Quantity sold: 2,181,566. Twenty-first Duck Stamp; sixth $2 stamp. 25 Blue geese. 1955-56 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Blue geese. Design: The original sketch, a black and white opaque watercolor, features three blue geese in flight, passing over a cattail marsh. Artist: Stanley Stearns, 16 Cedar Street, Binghamton, N.Y. Philatelic Data Color: A warm blue of a medium dark shade. Designers: Central design by Stanley Stearns; frame and lettering by Robert L. Miller. Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; frame, lettering, and numerals, Robert J. Jones. Plate Numbers: 165282, 165283, 165284, 165285. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1956. $2. Blue Geese." First day of sale: ]\i\y 1, 1955. Quantity sold: 2,369,940. Twenty-second Duck Stamp; seventh $2 stamp. 26 Common mergonsers. 1956-57 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Common merganser. Design: The original sketch, a black and white watercolor, features a pair of common or Ameri- ican mergansers flying low over fogbound water. Artist: Edward J. Bierly, 2723 South Buchanan Street, Arlington, Va. Philatelic Data Color: Blue-black. Designers: Central design by Edward J. Bierly; frame and lettering by William K. Schrage. Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; frame, lettering, and numerals, George A. Payne. Plate Numbers: 165826, 165827, 165829, and 165860 for face printing. Offset plate No. 52412 for back printing. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1957. $2. American Merganser." First day of sale: July 1, 1956. Quantity sold: 2,332,014 Twenty-third Duck Stamp; eighth $2 stamp. 27 Common eiders. 1957-58 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Common eider. Design: A tempera watercolor featuring two common or American eiders flying over the surf. /I rto/.- Jackson Miles Abbott, 814 Thirteenth Street, New Alexandria, Va. Philatelic Data Color: Medium yellowish-green. Designers: Central design by Jackson Miles Abbott; frame and lettering by Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. ^Engravers: Vignette, Arthur W. Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numerals, Howard F. Sharpless. Plate Numbers: 166256, 166257, 166258, and 166259 for face printing. Offset plate No. 52412 for back printing. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1958. $2. American Eider." First day of sale: ]u\y 1, 1957. Quantity sold: 2,355,353. Twenty-fourth Duck Stamp; ninth $2 stamp. 28 Canada geese. 1958-59 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Canada goose. Design: The original sketcti, a black and white wash drawing, features several Canada geese feeding in a picked cornfield in the upper Midwest country. Artist: Leslie C. Kouba, 5418 Washburn Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. Philatelic Data Color: "Midnight Black." Designers: Central design by Leslie C. Kouba; frame and lettering by Robert L. Miller. Engravers: Vignette, Matthew D. Fenton; frame, lettering, and numerals, George L. Huber. Plate Numbers: 166753, 166754, 166755, and 166756 for face printing. Offset plate No. 53752 for back printing. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1959. $2. Canada Geese." First day of sale: July 1, 1958. Quantity sold: 2,165,562. Twenty-fifth Duck Stamp; tenth $2 stamp. 29 Labrador retriever with mallard. 1959-60 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Mallard. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, features a Labrador retriever carrying a mallard drake. Artist: Maynard Reece, 3405 Fiftieth Street, Des Moines, Iowa. Philatelic Data Color: Black, blue, and yellow. Designers: Central design by Maynard Reece; frame and lettering by Bob Hines. Modeled by Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Arthur W. Dintaman; frame, lettering, and numerals, Howard F. Sharpless. Plate Numbers: 167109 and 167120 for face printing. Offset plate 54204 for back printing. Each of these plates contains 120 individual subjects. The two face plates were made by the electrolytic process for use on the sheet-fed, multicolor, rotary press (Giori). They originated from flat master plate No. 167097. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1960. $3. Retrievers Save Game." First day of sale: }u\y 1, 1959. Quantity sold: 1,630,311. Twenty-sixth Duck Stamp; first $3 stamp. 30 Redheads. 1960-61 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Redhead. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, features six redheads — a drake, a hen, and four ducklings — swimming in the reeds. Artist: John A. Ruthven, 6508 Stewart Road, Cincinnati 36, Ohio. Philatelic Data Color: Burnished Gold, Crimson Brown, and Bonnie Blue. Designers: Central design by John A. Ruthven; lettering by Robert L. Miller. Engravers: Vignette, Charles A. Brooks; lettering and numerals, George A. Payne. Plate Numbers: 167498 and 167503 for face printing. Offset plate 54204 for back printing. Each of these plates contains 120 individual subjects. The two face plates were made by the electrolytic process for use on the sheet-fed, multicolor, rotary press (Giori). Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1961. $3. Wildlife Needs Water: Preserve Wetlands. Redhead Ducks." First day of sale: July 1, 1960. Quantity sold: 1,731,245. Twenty-seventh Duck Stamp; second $3 stamp. 31 Mallards. 1961-62 Duck Stamp Design species of waterfowl featured: Mallard. Design: The original sketch, a black and white wash drawing, features a mallard hen and eight ducklings in a natural habitat. Artist: Edward A. Morris, 6824 38th Avenue, North, Minneapolis 27, Minn. Philatelic Data Colors: Dark reddish-brown, a moderate yellowish-brown, and a light blue. Designers: Central design by Edward A. Morris; lettering and numerals by Victor S. McCloskey, Jr. Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; lettering and numerals, Howard F. Sharpless. Plate Numbers: 167768 and 167772 for face printing. Offset plate No. 55048 for back printing. Each of these plates contains 120 individual subjects. Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1962. Migratory Bird Hunt- ing Stamp. $3. Mallard Brood. Habitat Produces Ducks." First day of sale: July 1, 1961. Quantity sold: Twenty-eighth Duck Stamp; third $3 stamp. us GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1961 OF — 596582 32 Ififl 5 WHSE 00215