Go 'Wild' - Collect Animals on Stamps

Biologist Scott Shalaway writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the only form of wildlife art he could afford while in graduate school was postage stamps.

He pens, "The U.S. Postal Service gets well-deserved criticism for closing small post offices and running deficits. But it is also a great source of outstanding art that anyone, even children, can afford to collect. Wildlife watchers are sure to enjoy some of the new stamps scheduled to appear this year."

He goes on to say, "I limit my stamp collecting to wildlife and outdoor themes. My oldest stamps date back to 1956, gifts from relatives. That 3-cent wildlife conservation series featured wild turkeys, pronghorn antelope and king salmon. Thereafter, wildlife appeared on stamps at least every few years."

 

"Do yourself and your children a favor," Scott says, "-- start a wildlife stamp collection with the birds of prey series this month."

On Jan. 20, the new series (shown above) will feature five birds of prey: northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, osprey and northern harrier.

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