1975 Haiti 12 Unauthorized Audubon Stamps

Discover the Thrilling Story of These Unauthorized Audubon Stamps

This is a set of 12 stamps issued by the Republic of Haiti in 1975, each reproducing a painting from John James Audubon's Birds of America. The twelve designs depict a wide variety of North American birds, each identified by both its scientific name and common name: the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura), Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), Common Loon (Gavia immer), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus), and a Roseate Spoonbill, among others. Denominations range from 5 centimes to 2.50 gourdes, with several values designated "Avion" for airmail use.

These stamps are described as "unauthorized" because Haiti reproduced Audubon's artwork without the permission of the National Audubon Society, which holds rights to the commercial use of Audubon's name and images in certain contexts. The practice of reproducing famous artwork on stamps without authorization was not uncommon among smaller nations in the 1970s. The Audubon paintings reproduced here are among the most recognized in the series — the White Pelican, Roseate Spoonbill, and Anhinga in particular are among Audubon's most admired compositions.

John James Audubon painted the original works reproduced on these stamps between roughly 1820 and 1838, during his years of travel through North America documenting bird species in their natural habitats. His Birds of America, containing 435 life-size hand-colored aquatint engravings, remains one of the most celebrated works in the history of natural history illustration.