Hunters, collectors, conservationists, and art lovers will all want this, the ultimate guide to the history and collector value of the Federal Duck Stamp on their shelves. This book crosses the boundaries of collecting, conservation, art, and history. It will become the standard by which other books are judged. "...a fascinating and very readable story of the duck stamp program." -- American Philatelist, November 2000 "...a fine job of telling the story of the art, conservation, and history of the Federal Duck Stamp Program." -- Wildlife Conservation, December 2000 "...lavishly illustrated...well-written and solidly researched, this is the definitive work on the subject." -- Sporting Classics, September/October 2000 "...the perfect gift for anyone who is or ever has been interested in waterfowl, wildlife and the principles of conservation." -- Women's Hunting Online "...well-written, enjoyable book for history buffs....artists...collectors of wildfowl art...compelling, informative and easy to read." -- Wildfowl Art, Spring/Summer 2000 ...the complete and fascinating history of the Duck Stamp Program.... -- WildBird, July 2000 Beautifully illustrated,... an engaging read that would make an ideal gift for the literate waterfowl hunter in your life. -- Michigan Live, May 23, 2000 For hunters, conservationists, art enthusiasts, collectors and even investors, "The Duck Stamp Story" should be on your reading list. -- Washington Times and St. Louis Dispatch, May 20, 2000 This is the most comprehensive, beautifully illustrated book ever published on the Federal Duck Stamp Program. It is much more than just a "stamp" book. The first third of the book focuses on the conservation history of the United States and the factors that led the federal government to take action to conserve dwindling populations of migratory waterfowl. Anyone interested in environmental/conservation history or the politics of wildlife protection should find this fascinating. Another third of the book focuses on the duck stamp art contest, often referred to as the "richest art competition in the world." Over twenty of the winning artists were interviewed for this section. The remainder of the book covers duck stamps and stamp collecting in depth. This includes information on grading a stamp's condition, how the stamps are produced from start to finish, stamp values, condition, and profiles of some of the great collectors. With over 300 full-color images! adding life to the text, this book is not only very interesting it is also beautiful. Eric Jay Dolin, Ph.D., is a freelance writer who has published four books and numerous articles on environmental and other topics in a wide range of journals, magazines, and newspapers. Eric's passion for conservation, wildlife, and stamp collecting, is what led him to this project. Educated at Brown University, Yale University, and MIT, his work experience includes being an AAAS writing fellow at Business Week, a Pew Research Fellow at Harvard Law School, a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and environmental consultant, and most recently a program manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He lives in Garrett Park, MD, with his wife, Jennifer, and children, Lily and Harrison. Bob Dumaine is a recognized duck stamp expert and has authored hundreds of articles on duck stamps. He founded the National Duck Stamp Collector's Society, and is owner of Sam Houston Duck Company, acknoweldged leader in the duck stamp field. He was a judge in the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest, as well as several state junior duck stamp programs, and serves as a stamp expertizer for Professional Stamp Experts, Inc.. Bob is frequently called on by federal and state agencies for consultation on their programs. For more than 12 years, he has written a monthly column on duck stamp for Linn's Stamp News, and is publisher of The Duck Report. Bob graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans, his birthplace and where his love affair with wildlife began. He currently lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with Rita, daughter Libby, and three Shetland sheep dogs, Lucy, Maggie, and Frito. Introduction Flying north in the spring and south in the fall, each year migratory waterfowl repeat one of nature s most breathtaking journeys of birth and renewal. For the past sixty-seven years a stamp has helped the birds make the flight. Sales of the federal duck stamp, topping half a billion dollars, have enabled the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to purchase more than five million acres of National Wildlife Refuge lands, critical habitat that migratory waterfowl and other species depend on for their survival. The duck stamp story is one of vision, dogged persistence, commitment, and beauty which conservationists, hunters, bird watchers, stamp collectors, and art lovers all can appreciate. Most importantly, the duck stamp story is about great results. The Fe