Since 1934, the United States government (in conjunction with a variety of environmental protection organizations) has issued a federal ''duck stamp.'' Ninety percent of the revenue collected from the sale of these stamps goes to protect endangered wetlands. Since the program's initiation, duck stamps have funded the National Wildlife Refuge System to the tune of $670 million.

All told, at least 5.2 million acres of wetlands have been indirectly protected thanks to these monies. The federal government promotes two different denominations of duck stamps--$15 duck stamps, and five-dollar junior duck stamps. In order to hunt waterfowl on most federal reservations, hunters must purchase at least one duck stamp per year.

After witnessing the success of the federal duck stamp program, many states tried to copycat the initiative. Some states created duck stamps programs to supplement environmental protection initiatives. Other states issued the stamps just to entice collectors. Regardless, these gorgeous depictions of American waterfowl have wowed philatelists from around the country and around the world.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors a program to redesign the federal duck stamps every year. Thousands of conservationists, aspiring artists, and philatelists participate in this competition. A similar competition is held to forge the annual design of the junior duck stamp. The winning designs are released to the public on July 1st of the next year, right in time for the U.S. National Independence Day celebration.