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A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE 63RD (1996-97) DUCK STAMP ARTIST

Wilhelm J. Goebel, 35 (at the time of the contest) is a nationally known wildlife artist.  He designed the 1994 New Jersey Duck Stamp and additional fishing stamps for New Jersey, Delaware and Illinois.  A graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, Goebel received a degree in biology.  He has made a lifetime study of bird anatomy.  "Birds are my specialty," he said. "Over the years, I've gotten to the point where I can draw almost any kind of bird from any angle simply from all the hours I've spent studying them."  He has made field trips to Canada, West Indies and to various United States National Parks to study wildlife.   His paintings have been featured in many publications including Outdoor Life, National Wildlife, Bird Watchers Digest, U.S. Art, Wildlife Art News and Sporting Classics to name a few.  Goebel's work is displayed in numerous galleries and museums around the United States and Canada including the National Wildlife Federation and Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.  His paintings are also found in many private collections across the country.  Over the years Goebel's artwork has benefited organizations such as Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited, NY Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Forever, NJ Audubon Society and Vermont Institute of Natural Science.  Wilhelm was selected to design the 1996 New Jersey Duck Stamp, the 1996 North Dakota Duck Stamp and the 1996 Alaska Duck Stamp.

--------------------THE ART--------------------

Goebel's oil painting of a pair of surf scoters in flight over New Jersey's southern shoreline features the historic Barnegat lighthouse in the background.  This is the second time that a lighthouse has been depicted on the Federal Duck Stamp, but this design is truly unique as it is the first time ever that a recognizable landmark has ever been depicted. (The previous stamp design with a lighthouse was the 1963 stamp by Edward Bierly that featured a non-specific lighthouse.)  The Barnegat lighthouse was completed in 1858 and its great red and white tower has stood guard over the Atlantic coast ever since.  Barnegat lighthouse is a great piece of American sculpture and a superb piece of engineering.  The Barnegat lighthouse was also depicted in the background of the 1991 New Jersey State Duck Stamp Print.

The surf scoter is considered among the more difficult birds to depict because reference material on the species is scarce.  The male surf scoter is black with large white patches on the forehead and at the nape of the neck.  Its most distinctive feature is the bill,  which has a black patch on each side margined behind by red, above by orange and in the front and below by a  patch of white.   The female is dark gray with a gray bill.

Surf Scoters was reproduced as a lithograph on 100% rag paper using fade resistant inks.   The print image size is 6 1/2" x 9".  The regular edition consisted on 17,500 signed and numbered prints.  2000 medallion edition prints as well as 500 executive prints were produced.

--------------------THE STAMP--------------------

Surf Scoter…Engraved by the Federal Bureau of Engraving from the original artwork. Printed in full color. The stamp sold for fifteen dollars. Postal records show 1,560,123 stamps sold. First day of sale was July 1, 1996.