Federal Duck Stamp

The first United States duck stamp, issued August 14, 1934

The Federal Duck Stamp, formally known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, is an adhesive stamp issued by the United States federal government that must be purchased prior to hunting for migratory waterfowl such as ducks and geese. It is also used to gain entrance to National Wildlife Refuges that normally charge for admission. It is widely seen as a collectable and a means to raise funds for wetland conservation, with 98% of the proceeds of each sale going to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.

President Herbert Hoover signed the Migratory Bird Conservation Act in 1929 to authorize the acquisition and preservation of wetlands as waterfowl habitat. The law, however, did not provide a permanent source of money to buy and preserve the wetlands. On March 16, 1934, Congress passed, and President Roosevelt signed, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, popularly known as the Duck Stamp Act.

Overview

Duck stamps are issued once a year. In most states, hunters are required to purchase both a federal and state stamp before hunting waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting seasons vary, but most begin in September or October, so naturally, stamps are needed prior to opening day of the hunting season. Currently, the federal stamp and more than half of the state stamps are issued by July. Many are issued on the first day of the new year, and a few at the last minute in September or early October.

The annual federal duck stamp had a face value of $1 in 1934, jumped to $2 in 1949, and to $3 in 1959. In 1972 the price increased to $5, then up to $7.50 in 1979, $10 in 1987, $12.50 in 1989 and to $15 in 1991. In 2015 the price of federal duck stamp rose to $25. For every $15 stamp sold, the federal government retained $14.70 for wetlands acquisition and conservation, with just 30 cents to overhead. Most state conservation stamps have a face value of $5. New Hampshire has the lowest price at $4; North Carolina is the highest at $27. Funds generated from state stamps are designated for wetlands restoration and preservation, much like the federal funds, but with a more localized purpose. Most state agencies sell their stamps at face value. However, some also charge a premium to collectors buying single stamps, to help cover overhead costs. Some states also produce limited editions for collectors.

Types

Mallards on stamp from 1935.

About 10 states issue two types of stamps, one for collectors and another for hunter use. Collector stamps are usually in panes of 10 or 30 without tabs. Hunter type stamps are usually issued in panes of five or 10, many with tabs attached. Hunters use the tabs to list their name, address, age and other data. Some states use only serial numbers to designate their hunter type stamp. State stamps are therefore referred to as either collector stamps or hunter type stamps. Most dealers will distinguish between these types on their price lists. Separate albums exist for both types and are available from most dealers.

Plate blocks or control number blocks are designations given to a block of stamps, usually four, with a plate or control number present on the selvage. Such a block is usually located in one or all four corners of a pane. Federal stamps prior to 1959 plus the 1964 issue are collected in blocks of six and must have the selvage on two sides. The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is a non-profit program sponsored by the Federal Government and designed to promote interest in conservation and wetlands preservation among students in grades K to 12. The program includes a conservation and education curriculum that helps students of all ages. It focuses on wildlife conservation and management, wildlife art and philately. All proceeds from sales support conservation education.

Governor's editions have been issued by several state agencies as a means of raising additional income. These stamps are printed in small quantities, most fewer than 1,000. They have a face value of approximately $50, and are imprinted with the name of the state governor. Governors also hand-sign a limited number of stamps. These are usually available at a premium, generally twice the price of normal singles. Hand-signed or autographed stamps are issued in very small quantities and are scarce to rare. Governor's editions are valid for hunting by all issuing states, but none would be used for that purpose, however, as it would destroy the mint condition and lower the value of the stamp.

Federal Duck Stamp contest

The first Federal Duck Stamp, designed by Jay Norwood Darling in 1934 at President Franklin D. Roosevelt's request, depicts two mallards about to land on a marsh pond. In subsequent years, other noted wildlife artists were asked to submit designs.

In 1949, the first duck stamp contest was opened to the public. The first contest in 1949 was open to any U.S. artist who wished to enter. Sixty-five artists submitted 88 design entries that first year. The number of entries rose to 2,099 in 1981. Maynard Reece from Arnolds Park, Iowa, won the competition a record five times, winning in 1948, 1951, 1959, 1969 and 1971. Brothers, Joe and Jim Hautman have individually surpassed Reece's record with six wins respectively.

The contest remains the only art competition of its kind sponsored by the U.S. Government. A panel of noted art, waterfowl, and philatelic authorities is appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to judge each competition. Winners receive no compensation for their work, other than a pane of stamps carrying their design. Winning artists may sell prints of their designs, which are sought after by hunters, conservationists, and art collectors.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mails contest regulations to interested artists each spring. Artists may choose their own medium and designs may be in black-and-white or full color and must measure 10 inches wide by 7 inches high.

Each year prospective contestants are provided with a list of eligible species to choose as their subject. The eligible species for the 2024 contest were Brant, Northern Shoveler, Greater Scaup, Spectacled Eider, and Hooded Merganser.

List of Federal Duck Stamps

Federal Duck Stamp artists and featured species

Permit Year	Face Value	Species featured	Artist	Notes
1934	$1.00	Mallard	Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling	Founded the National Wildlife Federation two years later in 1936
1935	$1.00	Canvasback	Frank W. Benson
1936	$1.00	Canada goose	Richard E. Bishop
1937	$1.00	Greater scaup	Joseph D. Knap (1875–1962)
1938	$1.00	Northern pintail	Roland H. Clark
1939	$1.00	Green-winged teal	Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878–1960)
1940	$1.00	American black duck	Francis L. Jacques
1941	$1.00	Ruddy duck	Edwin R. Kalmbach
1942	$1.00	American wigeon	Aiden Lassel Ripley (1896–1969)
1943	$1.00	Wood duck	Walter E. Bohl (1907–1990)
1944	$1.00	Greater white-fronted goose	Walter A. Weber
1945	$1.00	Northern shoveler	Owen J. Gromme (1896–1991)
1946	$1.00	Redhead	Robert W. "Bob" Hines
1947	$1.00	Snow goose	Jack Murray (1889–1965)
1948	$1.00	Bufflehead	Maynard Reece
1949	$2.00	Common goldeneye	Roger E. Preuss (1922–2007)
1950	$2.00	Trumpeter swan	Walter A. Weber	First design chosen by public contest
1951	$2.00	Gadwall	Maynard Reece
1952	$2.00	Harlequin duck	John H. Dick
1953	$2.00	Blue-winged teal	Clayton B. Seagears (1897–1983)
1954	$2.00	Ring-necked duck	Harvey Dean Sandstrom (1925–2013)
1955	$2.00	Blue goose	Stanley Stearns (1926–2013)
1956	$2.00	Common merganser	Edward J. Bierly (1920–2004)
1957	$2.00	Common eider	Jackson Miles Abbott
1958	$2.00	Canada goose	Leslie C. Kouba
1959	$3.00	Mallard	Maynard Reece	First multi-color design (black, blue, and yellow)
1960	$3.00	Redhead	John A. Ruthven
1961	$3.00	Mallard	Edward A. Morris (1917–2009)
1962	$3.00	Northern pintail	Edward A. Morris
1963	$3.00	Brant	Edward J. Bierly
1964	$3.00	Nene	Stanley Stearns
1965	$3.00	Canvasback	Ron Jenkins (1932– )
1966	$3.00	Tundra swan	Stanley Stearns
1967	$3.00	Long-tailed duck	Leslie C. Kouba
1968	$3.00	Hooded merganser	Claremont Gale Pritchard (1910–1975)
1969	$3.00	White-winged scoter	Maynard Reece
1970	$3.00	Ross's goose	Edward J. Bierly	First intaglio/offset printed Stamp
1971	$3.00	Cinnamon teal	Maynard Reece
1972	$5.00	Emperor goose	Arthur M. Cook (1931–1993)
1973	$5.00	Steller's eider	Lee LeBlanc (1913–1988)
1974	$5.00	Wood duck	David A. Maass (1929– )
1975	$5.00	Canvasback	James P. Fisher (1912–1990)
1976	$5.00	Canada goose	Alderson Magee (1929– )
1977	$5.00	Ross's goose	Martin R. Murk (1928– )
1978	$5.00	Hooded merganser	Albert Earl Gilbert (1939– )
1979	$7.50	Green-winged teal	Lawrence K. "Ken" Michaelsen (1936– )
1980	$7.50	Mallard	Richard W. Plasschaert (1941– )
1981	$7.50	Ruddy duck	John S. Wilson (1939– )
1982	$7.50	Canvasback	David A. Maass
1983	$7.50	Northern pintail	Phil V. Scholer (1951– )
1984	$7.50	American wigeon	William C. Morris (1945– )	50th anniversary
1985	$7.50	Cinnamon teal	Gerald Mobley (1938– )
1986	$7.50	Fulvous whistling duck	Burton E. Moore, Jr. (1935– )
1987	$10.00	Redhead	Arthur G. Anderson (1935– )	First printing from intaglio sleeve
1988	$10.00	Snow goose	Daniel Smith
1989	$12.50	Lesser scaup	Neal R. Anderson (1948– )
1990	$12.50	Black-bellied whistling duck	James "Jim" Hautman
1991	$15.00	King eider	Nancy Howe (1950– )	First woman Stamp artist
1992	$15.00	Spectacled eider	Joseph "Joe" Hautman
1993	$15.00	Canvasback	Bruce Miller (1952– )
1994	$15.00	Red-breasted merganser	Neal R. Anderson
1995	$15.00	Mallard	James Hautman
1996	$15.00	Surf scoter	Wilhelm Goebel (1960– )
1997	$15.00	Canada goose	Robert "Bob" Hautman
1998	$15.00	Barrow's goldeneye	Robert Steiner (1949– )	First pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) issue
1999	$15.00	Greater scaup	James Hautman
2000	$15.00	Mottled duck	Adam Grimm (1978– )
2001	$15.00	Northern pintail	Robert Hautman
2002	$15.00	Black scoter	Joseph Hautman
2003	$15.00	Snow goose	Ron Louque
2004	$15.00	Redhead	Scot Storm
2005	$15.00	Hooded merganser	Mark Anderson
2006	$15.00	Ross's goose	Sherrie Russell Meline
2007	$15.00	Ring-necked duck	Richard Clifton	First printing using only offset
2008	$15.00	Northern pintail	Joseph Hautman
2009	$15.00	Long-tailed duck	Joshua Spies
2010	$15.00	American wigeon	Robert Bealle
2011	$15.00	Greater white-fronted goose	James Hautman
2012	$15.00	Wood duck	Joseph Hautman
2013	$15.00	Common goldeneye	Robert Steiner
2014	$15.00	Canvasback	Adam Grimm
2015	$25.00	Ruddy duck	Jennifer Miller
2016	$25.00	Trumpeter swan	Joseph Hautman
2017	$25.00	Canada goose	James Hautman
2018	$25.00	Mallard	Robert Hautman
2019	$25.00	Wood duck	Scot Storm
2020	$25.00	Black-bellied whistling duck	Eddie LeRoy
2021	$25.00	Lesser scaup	Richard Clifton
2022	$25.00	Redhead	James Hautman
2023	$25.00	Tundra swan	Joseph Hautman
2024	$25.00	Northern pintail	Chuck Black
2025	$25.00	Spectacled eider	Adam Grimm

Issuance

Duck stamps are now issued by the United States government and all state governments. Many foreign countries, including Canada, Australia, Mexico, Russia and the United Kingdom have also issued duck stamps.

The issuing authorities within the various governments that release duck stamps are usually conservation and wildlife departments. These programs must be created by some form of legislation for the resulting stamps to be accepted as a valid governmental issue. Labels featuring ducks also are issued by various special interest groups, such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Their issues are referred to as "society stamps." These items technically are not duck stamps because the fee structure and disposition of funds are not legislated. However, society stamps are very collectible and often appreciated. Funds raised by these organizations are also used for waterfowl and conservation efforts. Valid organizations and societies of this type perform a major service to conservation by their donations and efforts, and they merit public support.

In popular culture

In September 2021 comedian John Oliver said on Last Week Tonight that he had commissioned and submitted five humorous entries into the contest. These were later auctioned off, fetching nearly $100,000 which was donated to the Federal Duck Stamp program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a statement in response, saying "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is excited Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is supportive of wildlife and wetland conservation."

See also

• Stamp collecting
• Hunting
• Conservationist

References

• Bob Dumaine - Sam Houston Duck Company, Houston, Texas.

Notes

Online material notes, "Content taken from the Duck Stamp Collection. The Duck Stamp Collection was originally printed in a loose-leaf, hole-punched format that was available for sale through the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) and updated annually. The document is no longer in print."

Further reading

• Chappell, L. A. Duck Stamps: Identification & Value Guide. Paducah, KY.: Collector Books, 2002 ISBN 1574322656 95p.
• Dolin, Eric Jay and Bob Dumaine. The Duck Stamp Story: Art, Conservation, History. Iola, WI.: Krause Publications, 2000 ISBN 087341814X 206p.
• McCaddin, Joe. Duck Stamps and Prints: The Complete Federal and State Editions. New York: H. Lauter Levin Associates / Macmillan, 1988 ISBN 0883636883 292p.
• Smith, Martin J. The Wild Duck Chase. New York: Walker & Company, 2012 ISBN 9780802779526 261p.

External links

• Federal Duck Stamps Office official website