# 1880-89 - 1981 18c Wildlife of America

U.S. #1880-89
1981 18¢ American Wildlife 

• First US booklet pane with 10 different stamps
• Pictures 10 animals found throughout the US

Stamp Category:  Definitive
Set:  American Wildlife
Value:  18¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue:  May 14, 1981
First Day City:  Boise, Idaho
Printed by:  Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Printing Method:  Engraved
Format:  Booklet panes of 10
Perforations:  11 on 2 or 3 sides
Color:  Dark brown

Why the stamps were issued:  To provide a booklet of stamps, each covering the first-class rate.

About the stamp designs:  National Geographic contract photographer Jim Brandenburg took the photos specifically for these stamp designs.  The stamps in the left side of the pane picture a bighorn sheep, a harbor seal, a brown bear, an elk, and white-tailed deer.  The right side of the pane has stamps picturing a puma, a bison, a polar bear, a moose, and a prong-horned antelope.  The names of the animals are included on the inside back cover of the booklet.

First Day City:  The First Day ceremony for the American Wildlife stamps was held at Boise State University, in Boise, Idaho.  Animals from the Boise City Zoo were on display at the ceremony.  All of the animals in the pane except the harbor seal and polar bear can be found in Idaho.

Unusual fact about these stamps:  Se-tenant pairs have been found with the animals’ positions reversed.  Imperforate varieties have also been found that are classified as printers’ waste.

History the stamps represent:  Since 1869, when a horse and two eagles appeared on the pictorial issues, America’s wildlife has become a popular topic for US postage.  Today, over 200 stamps picture mammals, birds, insects, and fish.  However, it wasn’t until the Postal Service issued the wildlife booklet that any of the stamps focused on endangered species.

During the past 2,000 years, the world has lost over 100 species of mammals alone and two thirds of these losses have occurred since the mid-1800s.  In addition to those that are already extinct, many are slowly vanishing.  Alarmed by the potential of man’s power to destroy the earth’s wildlife, pioneer conservationists began to take action.  Believing they had a responsibility to conserve natural resources for future generations, they established sanctuaries and wrote laws to regulate hunting.

Today, numerous sanctuaries, also called preserves, reserves, and refuges provide protection and space needed for large predators and grass-dwelling herds.  The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to hunt, trap, or collect those species which are threatened with extinction and also restricts the use of government funds for projects which will adversely affect their environment.

At one time, the animals pictured on these stamps freely roamed throughout North America.  However, unrestricted hunting pushed their populations to near extinction.  Many, though, like the white-tailed deer, have been restored through conservation efforts.

Bighorn Sheep – Found in the remote crags and cliffs of North America’s mountains, the Bighorn Sheep was once sought by trophy hunters for its magnificent curved horns.  Its superb sense of balance allows it to leap from rock to rock and effortlessly climb sheer cliffs.

Puma – This large, graceful cat was once considered a menace to ranchers and farmers and was hunted mainly for bounty or sport.  In many areas, it has been eliminated from its natural habitat and now survives in wildlife preserves.

Harbor Seal – Known as the “spotted or common seal,” this playful animal is found along coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  Today, international laws protect it from being killed merely for its pelts.

Bison – Three centuries ago, more than 200- million bison roamed the American plains.  Slaughtered unmercifully by the white man, they neared extinction in mid-19th century.  Today about 30,000 live on government preserves.

Brown Bear – The brown bear is the largest meat-eating animal in North America.  It has an excellent sense of smell, though its sight and hearing are weak.  Commonly found in zoos, they can also be seen performing in circuses and carnivals.

Polar Bear – Protected by international agreements since 1973, the polar bear may only be hunted by local populations using traditional weapons.  Included in this agreement are the Eskimos, who hunt the semi-aquatic mammal for its hide and flesh.

Elk – Called the wapiti by the Shawnee Indians, the elk is the second-largest deer, exceeded in size only by the moose.  Prized for its large antlers, it was once threatened with extinction.  Today, the elk live in the high alpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains. 

Moose – The largest member of the deer family prefers open, isolated areas free of human development.  Moose are frequently found in forests and swamps from Maine to Alaska and South of the Rockies to Wyoming.

White-tailed Deer – Unrestricted hunting had reduced the population of this important game animal by the mid-1900s, but conservation efforts restored it.  Its name refers to the white underside of its tail, which can be seen when the animal is alarmed or running. 

Prong-horned Antelope – One of the fastest mammals in North America, the prongbuck, as it is sometimes called, can reach speeds of more than 45 miles per hour and leap more than 20 feet in a single bound.  Many now live in game preserves found on the open grasslands of the West.