1996 32c Endangered Species: Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
# 3105f - 1996 32c Endangered Species: Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
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3105f - 1996 32c Endangered Species: Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
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US #3105f
1996 Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
- Part of set of 15 stamps picturing Endangered Species
- Issued during National Stamp Collecting Month
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Endangered Species
Value: 32¢First-Class mail rate
First Day of Issue: October 2, 1996
First Day City: San Diego, California
Quantity Issued: 14,910,000
Printed by: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithographed
Format: Panes of 15 (3 across, 5 down) from printing plates of 90 (9 across, 10 down)
Perforations: 11.1 x 11
Why the stamp was issued: The pane of 15 Endangered Species stamps was issued as part of the US Postal Service’s National Stamp Collecting Month. The theme for 1996 was “Collect and Protect.” The USPS hoped these stamps would appeal to children, who would then become lifelong stamp collectors.
About the stamp design: The stamps show photographs of 15 animal species that live in America and re threatened with extinction. The photos were taken by James Balog. The animals chosen for the stamps are from all major geographic areas of the US. The photo of the Schaus Swallowtail butterfly was taken at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the San Diego Zoo. In 1996, the zoo was celebrating its 80th birthday. The country of Mexico issued its own pane of endangered species stamps on the same day and took part in the First Day of Issue ceremony. (The stamps were not a joint issue.) In addition to honored human guests, two sea lions, an Andean condor, and a North American timber wolf were also in attendance at the celebration.
Unusual fact about the Endangered Species stamps: The 1996 National Stamp Collecting Month was co-sponsored by the US Postal Service and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
About the Endangered Species Set: The species shown on the pane of Endangered Species stamps are: Black-footed Ferret, Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly, Brown Pelican, San Francisco Garter Snake, Ocelot, Gila Trout, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Thick-billed Parrot, California Condor, Wyoming Toad, Woodland Caribou, Florida manatee, Florida Panther, Piping Plover, and American Crocodile. All of them are listed on the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.
History this stamp represents: The future of the Schaus swallowtail butterfly is as delicate and vulnerable as the butterfly itself. The urbanization of southern Florida destroyed much of the butterfly’s original habitat during the early part of the century, and extensive use of pesticides further threatened the population. By the 1970s, the Schaus swallowtail survived only in Key Biscayne National Park and on the island of Key Largo.
Well-managed habitats in the park and reclaimed land within the butterfly’s territory seemed to ensure the species’ survival. But in 1992 Hurricane Andrew hit, passing right through the swallowtail’s only habitat. All of the butterflies, which were in their pupal stage, were submerged beneath salt water, and many of the torchwood and lime trees on which the creatures depend were also destroyed. Fortunately, researchers had begun a captive-breeding program only two months earlier. In fact, the butterfly on this stamp was part of that program and had just emerged from its pupa when the picture was taken.
Following the disaster, 100 butterflies were found in Key Biscayne – an impressive number considering researchers feared there would be none, but not enough to secure the swallowtail’s future, which now rests upon the success of the captive population.
US #3105f
1996 Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
- Part of set of 15 stamps picturing Endangered Species
- Issued during National Stamp Collecting Month
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Endangered Species
Value: 32¢First-Class mail rate
First Day of Issue: October 2, 1996
First Day City: San Diego, California
Quantity Issued: 14,910,000
Printed by: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Lithographed
Format: Panes of 15 (3 across, 5 down) from printing plates of 90 (9 across, 10 down)
Perforations: 11.1 x 11
Why the stamp was issued: The pane of 15 Endangered Species stamps was issued as part of the US Postal Service’s National Stamp Collecting Month. The theme for 1996 was “Collect and Protect.” The USPS hoped these stamps would appeal to children, who would then become lifelong stamp collectors.
About the stamp design: The stamps show photographs of 15 animal species that live in America and re threatened with extinction. The photos were taken by James Balog. The animals chosen for the stamps are from all major geographic areas of the US. The photo of the Schaus Swallowtail butterfly was taken at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the San Diego Zoo. In 1996, the zoo was celebrating its 80th birthday. The country of Mexico issued its own pane of endangered species stamps on the same day and took part in the First Day of Issue ceremony. (The stamps were not a joint issue.) In addition to honored human guests, two sea lions, an Andean condor, and a North American timber wolf were also in attendance at the celebration.
Unusual fact about the Endangered Species stamps: The 1996 National Stamp Collecting Month was co-sponsored by the US Postal Service and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
About the Endangered Species Set: The species shown on the pane of Endangered Species stamps are: Black-footed Ferret, Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly, Brown Pelican, San Francisco Garter Snake, Ocelot, Gila Trout, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Thick-billed Parrot, California Condor, Wyoming Toad, Woodland Caribou, Florida manatee, Florida Panther, Piping Plover, and American Crocodile. All of them are listed on the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.
History this stamp represents: The future of the Schaus swallowtail butterfly is as delicate and vulnerable as the butterfly itself. The urbanization of southern Florida destroyed much of the butterfly’s original habitat during the early part of the century, and extensive use of pesticides further threatened the population. By the 1970s, the Schaus swallowtail survived only in Key Biscayne National Park and on the island of Key Largo.
Well-managed habitats in the park and reclaimed land within the butterfly’s territory seemed to ensure the species’ survival. But in 1992 Hurricane Andrew hit, passing right through the swallowtail’s only habitat. All of the butterflies, which were in their pupal stage, were submerged beneath salt water, and many of the torchwood and lime trees on which the creatures depend were also destroyed. Fortunately, researchers had begun a captive-breeding program only two months earlier. In fact, the butterfly on this stamp was part of that program and had just emerged from its pupa when the picture was taken.
Following the disaster, 100 butterflies were found in Key Biscayne – an impressive number considering researchers feared there would be none, but not enough to secure the swallowtail’s future, which now rests upon the success of the captive population.