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#57771
1985 22c Duck Decoy Maximum Cards Set of 4
$5.00
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This beautiful set of four maximum cards showcases U.S. Scott #2138-2141, the 1985 Duck Decoy stamps from the American Folk Art Series. Each 22-cent stamp was printed by the American Bank Note Company using photogravure and issued on March 22, 1985, in Shelburne, Vermont, near the Shelburne Museum, which holds a collection of more than 1,300 duck decoys. The stamp art was painted by renowned illustrator Stevan Dohanos, who based each design on a real, historically documented decoy. The four birds depicted are the Broadbill, Mallard, Canvasback, and Redhead.
Each decoy pictured on the stamps has its own story. The Broadbill was carved by Ben Holmes of Stratford, Connecticut, in the 1890s. The Mallard was crafted by Percy Grant of Osbornsville, New Jersey, around 1900. The Canvasback was carved by Bob McGaw of Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1929. And the Redhead was the work of Keyes Chadwick of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, carved in 1925. Two of these decoys were part of the Shelburne Museum collection at the time of the stamps' release.
Duck decoys are one of America's most treasured folk art traditions. Hunters have used them for centuries to lure waterfowl within range, and skilled carvers turned a practical tool into a true art form. The best antique decoys are now highly collectible, prized for their craftsmanship and regional character. The USPS summed it up perfectly at the first day ceremony, calling these carved birds "true folk sculpture, so true to life that many of them are now attacked by cats."
This beautiful set of four maximum cards showcases U.S. Scott #2138-2141, the 1985 Duck Decoy stamps from the American Folk Art Series. Each 22-cent stamp was printed by the American Bank Note Company using photogravure and issued on March 22, 1985, in Shelburne, Vermont, near the Shelburne Museum, which holds a collection of more than 1,300 duck decoys. The stamp art was painted by renowned illustrator Stevan Dohanos, who based each design on a real, historically documented decoy. The four birds depicted are the Broadbill, Mallard, Canvasback, and Redhead.
Each decoy pictured on the stamps has its own story. The Broadbill was carved by Ben Holmes of Stratford, Connecticut, in the 1890s. The Mallard was crafted by Percy Grant of Osbornsville, New Jersey, around 1900. The Canvasback was carved by Bob McGaw of Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1929. And the Redhead was the work of Keyes Chadwick of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, carved in 1925. Two of these decoys were part of the Shelburne Museum collection at the time of the stamps' release.
Duck decoys are one of America's most treasured folk art traditions. Hunters have used them for centuries to lure waterfowl within range, and skilled carvers turned a practical tool into a true art form. The best antique decoys are now highly collectible, prized for their craftsmanship and regional character. The USPS summed it up perfectly at the first day ceremony, calling these carved birds "true folk sculpture, so true to life that many of them are now attacked by cats."
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