Endangered Species Stamp Collection

(Click on stamps to see full size)

The stamps, issued in a ceremony at the San Diego Zoo on October 2 kicked off National Stamp Collecting Month.

With the theme "Collect & Protect", National Stamp Collecting Month encourages people of all ages to get involved in one of the world's most popular hobbies—philately. Whether picking up the hobby for the first time, renewing a past interest, or continuing involvement, the Postal Service is encouraging collectors to get "a little wild" this year and add the Endangered Species stamps to their collection. Fifteen animals found on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species list will be featured on the stamps. The 32-cent stamps include: the Black-footed ferret, Thick-billed parrot, Hawaiian monk seal, American crocodile, Ocelot, Schaus swallowtail butterfly, Wyoming toad, Brown pelican, California condor, Gila trout, San Francisco garter snake, Woodland caribou, Florida panther, Piping plover, and the Florida manatee.

The stamps are based on photographs taken by world-renowned nature photographer James Balog. BalogÕs work has appeared in publications such as National Geographic and Outside magazine, and has been featured in exhibitions worldwide.

A kit including teacher lesson plans and student guides, posters, and stamp collecting cards has been sent to more than 65,000 classrooms and libraries nationwide to aid educators in generating awareness of endangered species. A video produced for children that highlights six of the animals featured on the pane of stamps is also available.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) joins the Postal Service this year in sponsoring National Stamp Collecting Month. "Using stamps to heighten the awareness of endangered wildlife is a great way to keep conservation on the minds of the public," said Sydney J. Butler, Executive Director, American Zoo and Aquarium Association. "We encourage people to visit their local zoo, aquarium, or post office to learn about these animals and other endangered species."

Under the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, oversees the protection and conservation of all forms of fish, wildlife, and plants found to be in imminent threat of extinction. Of the 956 U.S. species currently on the Endangered Species list, 431 are animals, and 525 are plants.

The Endangered Species pane of stamps continues the Postal Service's tradition of concern for the environment. Last year, the Postal Service issued the Kids Care! stamps—a block of four environmental stamps designed by children.

In 1995, the White House awarded the Postal Service seven "Closing the Circle Awards" for environmental leadership. The USPS has the nation's largest compressed natural gas delivery fleet, recycles an estimated one million tons of material per year, and uses recycled material for many of its stamps, retail, and philatelic products.

The Endangered Species pane of stamps became available nationwide on October 2. The Mexican Postal Service will also issued a sheet of stamps promoting awareness of endangered species on that day.

Technical Details