| In United States it has been customary to make an | | | | comprised of professors of art who could remark on |
| artistic postal stamp depicting a hunting bird like the | | | | the skill of the contestants. Experts on duck and wildlife |
| Duck every year. This bird stamp story is quite an | | | | were also invited to be on the panel of judges to |
| interesting one. These stamps are becoming more and | | | | ascertain that the art work put up for the contest was |
| more famous since their inception. Right from the | | | | perfect as to how a duck should look and the |
| beginning till the yearly art contest, this stamp history | | | | placement of the duck in context with its environment. |
| has been very fascinating. | | | | Another reason to invite these experts to judge the |
| In 1934 Jay Darling designed the first duck stamp. | | | | contest was that they would value the subject matter |
| Public appreciated the idea of a painter creating | | | | of the stamp. All through the history of hunting bird |
| resemblance to a duck and have that arty media set | | | | stamp, this has been the most exclusive contest |
| on a stamp, but that was not the end of the history of | | | | government of United States ever sponsored. This |
| hunting bird stamp. Popular wildlife painters were | | | | made the stamp as well as the event very |
| requested to design the logo of the stamp. As these | | | | extraordinary. |
| imaginative stamps became more and more famous | | | | The reward the winners get is the kudos and fame |
| they caught the public attention too. Within no time this | | | | that comes with designing the stamp and winning the |
| yearly hunting bird stamp was the most famous stamp | | | | contest, there is no monetary gain. However, the |
| United States Postal Service could ever present. | | | | winners are given a sheet of stamp as memento.They |
| In 1949, there came a sea change in the history of | | | | are also allowed to sell the prints of the winning design |
| hunting bird stamp. The duck stamp had gained so | | | | freely to whomsoever they like. This is essential |
| much popularity that postal department thought of | | | | because lot of artists are disillusioned of such |
| declaring a competition. Painters and designers spread | | | | competitions if participation means losing the rights of |
| all over the United States were called to participate in | | | | their work.The history of hunting bird stamp is so bright |
| the contest of designing the duck stamp. Eminent | | | | and outstanding that people from all over the United |
| Persons were invited to judge the contest. They | | | | States want to buy every year?s new duck stamps. |