Wildlife Issues 2003-2009

The Postal Service issued a 17-cent definitive Bighorn Sheep stamp on May 21, 2007, in Washington, DC. Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, California, designed the stamps.

The stamp features a stylized drawing of a bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadensis). This kind of sheep is found from southwestern Canada to northern Mexico. Its range includes the colder, higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains and some of the hottest, most arid regions of the American Southwest and Mexico. To create the image on the stamp, artist Nancy Stahl of New York, New York, worked from photographs of bighorn sheep.

Reference: Postal Bulletin (April 26, 2007).

The Postal Service issued a 26-cent definitive stamp, Florida Panther, on May 12, 2007, in Washington, DC. Carl T. Herrman of Carlsbad, California, designed the stamp.

The stamp features a highly stylized illustration of a Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). This large, tawny cat is related to the mountain lion, also known as a cougar or puma. Most active between dusk and dawn, the Florida panther is capable of short but quick bursts of speed while pursuing prey. Its diet includes white-tailed deer, small mammals, and birds.

Nationally known illustrator Nancy Stahl of New York, New York, used a photograph of a Florida panther as the basis for her stamp art.

The Florida Panther stamp was issued in the following formats: Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of twenty, water-activated gum (WAG) pane of 100, PSA convertible booklet of ten, and PSA coil of 100. Ashton Potter Ltd. manufactured 200 million stamps in the offset process with microprint "USPS".

Reference: Postal Bulletin (April 12, 2007).

The 37-cent Snowy Egret definitive stamp was issued four times between the years 2003 and 2005. The stamp was designed by Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California, and features artist Nancy Stahl's rendering of a snowy egret, which is considered one of the most beautiful American birds. The stamp art, based on photographs, depicts the head and upper body of a snowy egret against a blue background.

The snowy egret (Egretta thula) is a slender, white heron with black legs and bright yellow feet. This bird lives in marshes, swamps, and other wetlands. When flying or searching for food, it can curve its long neck into a compact "S" shape.

Reference:

Postal Bulletin (December 25, 2003).

Postal Bulletin (August 18, 2003).

On April 16, 2009, in New York, New York, the US Postal Service issued the 28-cent Polar Bear definitive stamp in one design in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of twenty stamps. Carl T. Herrman, Carlsbad, California, designed the stamp.

This stamp features an image of a polar bear by illustrator Nancy Stahl, who has created several designs for the USPS, including the Florida Panther in 2007 and the Dragonfly in 2008. This stamp shows the bear's head, chest, and front paws, and in the background appears a dark blue sky dotted with stars. Stahl used a collection of photographs to create this highly stylized illustration. The Polar Bear stamp was made available in a pressure sensitive adhesive pane of twenty and coil of one hundred.

Banknote Corporation of America/SSP, Browns Summit, North Carolina, printed 350 million stamps in the offset process with microprint "USPS."

Reference: Postal Bulletin (March 12, 2009).

On June 12, 2009, in Washington, DC, the US Postal Service issued the 64-cent Dolphin definitive stamp in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of twenty stamps. Carl T. Herrman of North Las Vegas, Nevada, designed the stamp.

This 2009 stamp, with an illustration by Nancy Stahl, New York, New York, features a bottlenose dolphin leaping from the water. Stahl has created illustrations for several stamps, including the Dragonfly (2008) and Florida Panther (2007), designed in a similar style. She used several photographs of bottlenose dolphins, marine mammals noted for their high intelligence and playful behavior, as reference for the art.

Avery Dennison (AVR), Clinton, South Carolina, printed 40 million stamps using the gravure process.  

Reference: Postal Bulletin (May 7, 2009).