‘Duck’ Issues Are Not Fly-by-Nights

Question: What are Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps that are issued by the U.S. Postal Service? Since they are expensive, do they have a lot of rarity or value?--R.K.

Answer: The issues you describe are listed under “Hunting Permit Stamps” in the Scott catalogue. They are commonly called “duck” stamps by collectors.

The first duck stamp, catalogue No. RW1, appeared in 1934, and the 1985 issue is RW52. The duck stamps have a high face value at present: $7.50 each, and this high initial cost helps to keep their collector market prices high.

Duck stamps are issued to licensed hunters of waterfowl in the United States. Each stamp has a beautiful picture of native ducks or geese in their natural habitats. Both hunters and stamp collectors save duck stamps, which adds to their popularity.

These stamps are on sale only for a year, then are replaced by next year’s design. You can buy the ducks at some post office philatelic windows or by mail from the U.S. Postal Service, Philatelic Sales Division, Washington, D.C. 20265.

Q: I’m a Rotary Club member and would like to start a collection of Rotary stamps issued by foreign countries. Where do I find more information on this?--P.J.

A: Rotary on Stamps is a national organization of stamp collectors who specialize in Rotary issues. Dues are $8 a year. For information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: William Atkinson, 1365 Charlotte St., Stephenville, Texas 76401.

Q: What is the value of about 90 first-day covers of U.S. stamps during the years 1955 and 1960-to-1966? Is there a way to determine the value for individual issues?--P.G.

A: You probably have common U.S. first-day covers, worth about 10 cents to 20 cents wholesale, double that for retail. Yes, a few issues of those years are worth more than the cheapest varieties. You have to look them up in a Scott U.S. Specialized catalogue, found in most public libraries. Remember, catalogue prices tend to be a little inflated; use them as a rough guide to relative worth.

Q: What are these worth? Two copies of the 5-cent New York World’s Fair stamps, dated 1964-65, and four copies of a 6-cent Canadian issue showing Queen Elizabeth (photocopies enclosed).--G.G.

A: Face value (five cents each) for the U.S. World’s Fair stamps. Close to nothing for the common Canadian varieties.

Q: I have been collecting stamps now for about 10 years and have quite a few boxes of new and used stamps. Because we travel quite a bit, I also have many foreign stamps. I need to become active in a stamp organization but do not know where to find one. Can you help me?--G.H.

A: Because you live in Artesia, I recommend a stamp club near your home. Try the Society of Southern California Philatelists, which meets on the first Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at Glendale Federal Savings & Loan, Fullerton (according to my latest information). Or the Long Beach Stamp Club, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Millikan High School, 2800 Snowden Ave., Long Beach.

Barry Krause, a member of several national stamp-collecting organizations, cannot answer mail personally but will respond to philatelic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Stamps, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.