V3501

Migratory Bird

Black Scoters

Collins Cover Announcement 

2002 Federal Migratory Bird Stamp

The Annual Collins 

Black Scoter

Edition Limited to Those Ordering Now

High Value Stamp - $15.00 Face

The only North American waterfowl never portrayed on a Federal Duck Stamp was the Black Scoter Thanks to Joseph Hautman's 2002 winning painting in the national contest, this species will make its debut on this year's stamp.

Black Scoters nest in the Arctic regions of Alaska and Canada. They winter along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and are most often found along the shorelines of South Carolina and Georgia. Their diet consists of clams, oysters, mussels, algae, and pondweed.

The male is a shiny black except for an orange-yellow knob on its upper bill and the silver under surface of its wings. The female is a grayish brown with light patches on the throat and cheeks. The Black Scoter is a beautiful sea duck, and I'm pleased that it will finally appear on a Federal Duck stamp and on a Collins First Day Cover. The male is the only all black duck in North America, and, since the bright orange-yellow bill contrasts so sharply, colloquial names such as "Butter Bill," "Yellow-Bill," and "Yellow-Nose" have come into use.

Only Those Orderink now will receive this cover.

As my long-term collectors know, this once-a-year offering is eagerly awaited. My Federal Migratory Bird Stamp ("Duck") cover is available only to those collectors ordering at this time from this announcement. There will be no "second chance" or subsequent announcements. It's what I term an "immediate sell out" because they will be produced only for those ordering them now. They are never available on my price list after issue date.

This year, to meet the first class postage requirements, I'll be using the brand new John Audubon stamp, which portrays the scarlet tanager and the red tanager. These vivid songbirds are a terrific contrasting companion stamp for the Black Scoter. I cannot stress enough the need for a timely response top this ordering announcement. Last year, several collectors were very disappointed that they missed the deadline.

I'm pleased to offer the first-ever Black Scoter Federal Duck stamp on a Collins hand painted First Day Cover. Because of potential unannounced new issues during this Postal Service rate-increase period, I will await assigning a Collins number to this cover.

Spring 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 22 V3501 — Federal Migratory Duck — Black Scoter — 7-1-02

This is the first time a Black Scoter was ever featured on a Federal Duck Stamp. These unusually colored ducks nest in the Arctic regions of Alaska and Canada and winter along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S. The male is a shiny black except for an orange-yellow knob on its upper bill and the silver under-surface of its wings. The female is a grayish brown with light patches on the throat and cheeks. The Black Scoter is a beautiful sea duck and is the only all-black duck in North America. Because its bright orange-yellow bill contrasts so sharply, colloquial names such as "Butter Bill," "Yellow Bill," and "Yellow Nose" have come into use. The firstclass requirement for these covers was met with the John Audubon stamp which portrays the scarlet tanager and the red tanager. Those vivid songbirds contrast nicely with the Black Scoter.