High-quality printing on glossy paper accentuates the spectacular artwork of the federal duck stamps as well as a variety of other pictures related to waterfowl. The writing style is also well worth the paper it's printed on, as is the book's organization. Whether you hunt ducks or not, sections on the background of personal and government events leading to the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act in 1934 are of interest. The history of the politics and personalities of the program, which really began in the 1920s and earlier with some far-sighted conservationists, is presented in superb fashion. Other parts of the book deal with stamp collecting and with the duck stamp programs that developed in each of the fifty states.
Duck stamps are collector's items.
Unsold stamps are destroyed after three years, and an entire set would be extremely valuable. The book gives the details of what to look for and how to judge the quality of a particular stamp. In the 15 years following creation of the first stamp, artists were commissioned for the project. In 1949 the national duck stamp contest was initiated. But the most important financial benefit from the sale of duck stamps continues to be the millions of dollars in revenue used for the acquisition of wetland habitats.