Theme
Duck stamp prints
Maass won the federal duck stamp contest twice, for the 1974–75 and 1982–83 stamps, and designed state stamps for Minnesota, Arkansas, Texas, North Dakota and Maine. A small print was published of each design.1234
A duck stamp print reproduces the winning painting at a standard small size: an image of 6½ × 9 inches on a sheet of about 12 × 14. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not sell them. The artist keeps the copyright and may publish prints himself or through dealers.56
His first federal stamp shows wood ducks. It went on sale on 1 July 1974 at $5, and more than 2.1 million were sold. The print was made by four-color photolithography from the oil painting. His second, for 1982–83, shows three canvasbacks over a stormy marsh.314
In 1977 he was commissioned to paint Minnesota’s first waterfowl stamp: three mallards rising against cattails. A stamp dealer’s history says the print set a record with an edition of 3,200.74
His publisher credits him with the idea of the time-limited edition, beginning with the 1974 print.8
What they sell for
Recent eBay sold listings for David Maass duck stamp prints ranged from $30 to $350, with a median of $300
- Low
- $30
- Median
- $300
- High
- $350
All David Maass listings, for comparison: 37 sold, $15 to $360, median $50.
These are observations of sold listings, not an appraisal. Where a seller accepted a Best Offer, eBay shows the asking price, so true prices can be lower. How we source prices.
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Check against eBay: recent sold listings (affiliate link to eBay) · for sale now (affiliate link to eBay)
Example prints
| Title | Year | Edition | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal duck stamp 1974–75: Wood Ducks3 | 19743 | Signed but not numbered; 100 artist’s proofs signed and numbered3 | Image 6½ × 9 in3 |
| Federal duck stamp 1982–83: Canvasbacks49 | 198249 | 22,250 signed and numbered; 400 artist’s proofs4 | Image 6½ × 9 in49 |
| Minnesota waterfowl stamp 1977: Mallards (first of state)10411 | 197710 | 3,2004 | Image 6½ × 9 in11 |
| Minnesota waterfowl stamp 1979: Pintails10 | 197910 | ||
| Arkansas duck stamp 1983: Wood Ducks2 | 19832 | ||
| Texas duck stamp 19842 | 19842 | ||
| North Dakota duck stamp 19842 | 19842 | ||
| Maine duck stamp 1984 (first of state)2 | 19842 |
A sample of prints in this theme with facts we could source, not a full list.
How to identify these prints
The two federal prints are signed differently. A stamp dealer’s history says the regular 1974 edition was signed in pencil but not numbered, with 100 artist’s proofs signed and numbered. The 1982 print was signed and numbered in pencil, in an edition of 22,250 with 400 artist’s proofs. Another dealer describes a 1974 print as signed and numbered, so check the copy in hand.3412
A standard-edition stamp print is normally sold with a matching stamp. Stamp-print dealers also describe medallion editions, which add a gold- or silver-plated medal, and executive editions, which usually add a small original drawing by the artist and are made in very small numbers.5
These are small prints. His large limited editions are another matter: Grouse Meadow, for one, has an image of 16 × 24 inches.513
[edition sizes of the state stamp prints other than Minnesota 1977 not confirmed]
[issue prices of the stamp prints not confirmed]
David Maass prints in general
His large limited editions are signed and numbered. Wild Wings describes one as a limited edition of 750 signed and numbered prints, and a dealer sells them with a certificate of authenticity.1415
Many of his titles are series, so the short title is not enough. Misty Morning exists with green-winged teal, woodcock, ruffed grouse, mallards, wood ducks and bobwhite quail; Evening Flight with mallards, wood ducks, ruffed grouse and pheasants. Each is a separate edition.161718
Not every print is a limited edition. Wild Wings sells 11 × 14 inch “Art Prints” of his pictures in a collector’s sleeve, with a certificate of authenticity that has a holographic seal; the page mentions no signature or edition size. It also sells open-edition prints from its Great Northern Art line.1920
On eBay now
See David Maass duck stamp prints in eBay’s Art category. Auctions are listed ending soonest first; many sellers also take a Best Offer.
For sale now on eBay (affiliate link to eBay) Recently sold on eBay (affiliate link to eBay)
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Sources
- In passing: Delta pays tribute to acclaimed wildlife artist. Delta Waterfowl.
- David Maass Awards. Reelfoot.com (regional tourism site).
- RW41-41st Duck Stamp additional information. Brookman Stamps (stamp dealer; text credited to L. F. Jonson, Federal Duck Stamp Story).
- RW49-49th Duck Stamp additional information. Brookman Stamps (stamp dealer; text credited to L. F. Jonson, Federal Duck Stamp Story).
- Federal Duck Stamp Prints. Michael Jaffe Stamps / Brookman Stamps (stamp-print dealer).
- Commemorative Products. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Federal Duck Stamp Office.
- The Dean of Minnesota's Wildlife Artists - Part Five. Waterfowl Stamps and More.
- David A. Maass. Wild Wings.
- Federal Duck Stamp Design - Works - eMuseum. National Museum of Wildlife Art.
- Minnesota Duck Stamps. Brookman Stamps (stamp dealer).
- Minnesota Duck Stamp Print 1977 - First of State - Mallards by David Maass. ArtUSA.
- Zzz Stamp 1974 - 1975 Federal Duck Stamp And Print By David A. Maass. ArtBarbarians.com (Minnesota print dealer).
- David A. Maass Handsigned and Numbered Limited Edition Print: "Grouse Meadow-Ruffed Grouse". Gallery Direct Art.
- Climbing High - Woodcock - Limited Edition Paper. Wild Wings.
- Artist David Maass Game Bird Art Print Three Birds Up-Ruffed Grouse. Wildlife Prints.
- Wildlife art prints - David Maass artist page. ArtBarbarians.com (Minnesota print dealer).
- ArtBarbarians.com - misty morning teal by David Maass. ArtBarbarians.com (Minnesota print dealer).
- David Maass Evening Flight-Pheasants. Wildlife Prints.
- Evening Flight Wood Ducks Art Prints - Official Ducks Unlimited Art. Wild Wings.
- Cascade Crossing - Ruffed Grouse - GNA Premium Print. Wild Wings.