Ducks Going Postal

Artist Claremont Pritchard, 1968

In 1934, our nation discovered its natural bounty had limits as the continental population of waterfowl reached its lowest point in recorded history—approximately 27 million birds.

Through the Federal Duck Stamp Program, conservationists, artists, hunters and the federal government joined forces to conserve our country's natural resources.

Since 1934, revenues from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps have been used to acquire millions of acres of natural habitat for America's waterfowl in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The National Postal Museum has an exhibit of the stamps that have been part of the Federal Duck Stamp program at the Jeanette Cantrell Rudy Gallery. The exhibit explores the history of rare and collectible Federal Duck Stamps created as part of the conservation program. You can see the Postal Museum exhibit online.