Set of 4: 22c Ducks

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CRELBURNE Redhead Decoy 22 1985 Folk Art USA 22 05482 Waren. VT Broadbill Decoy 22 1985 Folk Art USA 22 05482 Warren VT Mallard Decoy RELBURNE 22 1985 Folk Art USA 22 05482 Wanren. VT Canvasback Decoy RELBURNE 22 1985 Folk Art USA 22 05482 WArem. VT

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REDHEAD DECOY First Day of Issue: March 22, 1985 First Issue Location: Shelburne, Vermont With a distinctive round, red-brown head — for which this waterbird is named — and an eye-catching black chest, gray wing stripe, and blue bill with black tip, the Redhead Duck is certainly among the most beautiful of America's diving ducks. And the antique duck decoys used to imitate these striking wild ducks are among the most distinctive of all the American decoys carved around the turn of the century. The master decoy carvers took great care to ensure that their Redhead decoys reflected the distinctive shape and plumage of the beaut- iful living birds. Indeed, when the early waterfowlers set their decoys out in a lake, entire flocks of passing Red- heads approached convinced that all was safe and well. Later, as laws limiting waterfowl hunting were passed, many of these decoys were abandoned. It has only been in recent years, that these decoys have been greatly sought after as a form of American Folk Art. America honored the rustic beauty and nostalgia of this cherished Folk Art with the stamp featured on this Maximum Card. No. 85-14 ©1985 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Michael Warren. BROADBILL DECOY First Day of Issue: March 22, 1985 First Issue Location: Shelburne, Vermont Few art forms are as uniquely American as the duck decoy . . . for it was the American Indians who first developed the art of hand-crafted decoys. More than one thousand years ago, the Indians crafted decoys from wood, reeds, and mud to lure waterfowl ... and then later taught their craft to the colonists. Most of the decoys produced were of two varieties — the stickups, which are the oldest type, and floating decoys. The stickup decoys were crafted mainly along the Atlantic coastline where they were pushed into the sand to attract shorebirds such as the curlew, sandpiper and plover. Floating decoys, however, were more prevalent, for they were carved to imitate both sea and inland ducks. Today, many of these prized antique duck decoys are housed in the famed Shelburne Museum of Shelburne, Vermont. In honor of the cherished American Folk Art of duck decoy carving, the United States Postal Service issued a se-tenant block of stamps in Shelburne, Vermont depict- ing four antique decoys. No. 85-15 ©1985 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Michael Warren, MALLARD DECOY First Day of Issue: March 22, 1985 First Issue Location: Shelburne, Vermont A blend of beauty and utility, the duck decoys of yes- teryear captured the handsome qualities and distinctive markings of the water birds they imitated . . . and served as rugged lures for the hunter. First used by the American Indians to lure great flocks of water birds from the heavens, duck decoys were perfected by the early col- onists. However, while the Indians fashioned their de- coys from mud and straw, or from stuffed bird hides, the colonists carved their decoys from wood and carefully painted them to imitate the living birds' plumage. Today, these antique duck decoys are a treasured part of Americana, for they capture the mystique of days gone by ... and symbolize the rich abundance of America's waterfowl. Indeed, duck decoys are a reflection of America's culture and history ... art and wildlife. America honored this cherished Folk Art with a set of stamps depicting four actual antique duck decoys. The featured on this Maximum Card. No. 85-16 ©1985 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Michael Warren. CANVASBACK DECOY First Day of Issue: March 22, 1985 First Issue Location: Shelburne, Vermont For centuries, the taking of waterfowl in Europe was a sport reserved for the rich and powerful aristocracy. However, in America, the water birds belonged to everyone. And to lure the great flocks from the skies, master artisans around the turn of the century carved hundreds of beautiful duck decoys. Many of these hand- some decoys were so realistic that flocks of wild ducks would often swim and feed among the decoys without detecting them. Admired today as unique American Folk Art, the duck decoys of yesteryear were used as actual hunting tools. Although most of these duck decoys were carved from wood, the materials used to fashion the decoys varied from barrel slats and natural cork ... to heavy canvas and even cast iron. On March 22, 1985, America honored this unique Folk Art with a set of from America's past. The Canvasback Decoy featured on this Maximum Card is housed in the famed Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont. No. 85-17 ©1985 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Michael Warren.