Stamp Investment Tip: U.S. 1993-Present Junior Duck Stamps (Scott #JDS 1-21)

  The U.S. Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program held its first national art contest and issued its first Junior Duck Stamp in 1993, and it has gradually increased in popularity among Duck stamp collectors ever since. More than 27,000 students enter Junior Duck Stamp art contests each year.  It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of students have been educated on the importance of waterfowl and wetlands conservation.  The winning design from the national contest is used to create the Junior Duck Stamp for the following year. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamp support conservation education, and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program.

   Technically, these stamps are cinderellas. Unlike the regular Federal, State, and Tribal Duck Stamps, the Junior Duck Stamps do not license hunters, but are issued solely as collectibles. Though I seldom recommend cinderellas as investments, the growing popularity of these stamps renders them an exception to this rule.

  I wish to thank the Federal Duck Stamp Office for has generously providing me with information as to "minimum quantities sold" for these stamps, which may be considered to be slightly less than the actual quantities sold. For certain years, no information is available, and it should be noted that the stamps are available for purchase from them for three years after issuance, so those issued from 2011 on are still being sold. I've listed these stamps, their quantities issued, and their Scott '14 Catalog Values, below:

• 1993 $5 Redhead (#JDS1 - Unknown; CV = $85.-)
• 1994 $5 Hooded Merganser (#JDS2 - Unknown; CV = $200.-)
• 1995 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS3 - 2,493; CV = $450.-)
• 1996 $5 Canvasback (#JDS4 - 2,783 ; CV = $550.-)
• 1997 $5 Canada Goose (#JDS5 - 2,804; CV = $500.-)
• 1998 $5 Black Duck (#JDS6 - 223; CV = $500.- )
• 1999 $5 Wood Duck (#JDS7 - Unknown; CV = $ 525.-)
• 2000 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS8 - Unknown; CV = $350.-)
• 2001 $5 Trumpeter Swan (#JDS9 - 18,928; CV = $85.-)
• 2002 $5 Mallard (#JDS10 - 21,667; CV = $55.-)
• 2003 $5 Green-winged Teal (#JDS11 - 21,466; CV = $35.-)
• 2004 $5 Whistling Duck (#JDS12 - 25,035; CV = $27.50)
• 2005 $5 Ring-necked Duck (#JDS13 - 28,456; CV = $25.-)
• 2006 $5 Redhead (#JDS14 - 27,720; CV = $15.-)
• 2007 $5 American Widgeon (#JDS15 - 17,567; CV = $12.-)
• 2008 $5 Nene (#JDS16 - 31,499; CV = $12.-)
• 2009 $5 Wood Duck (#JDS17 - 21,389; CV = $12.-)
• 2010 $5 Hooded Merganser (#JDS18 - 30,519; CV = $10.-)
• 2011 $5 Ring-necked Duck (#JDS19 - 15,486; CV = $10.-)
• 2012 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS20 - Unknown; CV = $ 10.-)
• 2013 $5 Canvasback (#JDS21 -  Unknown; CV - $10.- )

  From a philatelic investment perspective, the Duck Stamp collecting community is interesting because it represents an atypical crossover market which includes collectors of  U.S. stamps in general, U.S. Revenues, Duck hunting collectibles and Wildlife art. Because revenues from the sales of the stamps are used to purchase and protect wildlife habitats, it may be considered a "green" collectible, and Duck stamp collecting is actively promoted by the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. I estimate that currently there are between 8,000 to 10,000 "serious" Duck stamp collectors in the U.S., and many others who buy them to them to fill spaces in their general U.S. albums.

Those interested in learning about investing in stamps should read the Guide to Philatelic Investing ($5), available on Kindle and easily accessible from any computer.