Earlier this year I was invited by the United Nations Postal Administration to illustrate a set of four stamps for their Endangered Species series. Recently, they sent me this image showing how my illustrations will appear in the set:
Illustrations by Emily S. Damstra, © United Nations Postal Administration (click image to enlarge)
The theme for this set is nocturnal animals. Clockwise from top left: Banded Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus), Pharoah Eagle Owl (Bubo ascalaphus), Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus sp.), and Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang).
I decided on a format of showing each animal’s head in full color and in the background the whole animal in its habitat at night. I created these illustrations using graphite with digital color.
Evidently the UN is the only organization in the world that is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps. It is also the only entity to issue stamps in three different currencies – US dollars, Swiss francs, and Euros. The stamps can only be used for postage if mailed from UN Headquarters in New York City, Geneva, or Vienna (depending upon the currency). More information about the UNPA is here at their website.
This set of stamps will be available (according the UNPA website) in October 2013. Try this link in October to find them.
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*Update Oct. 11, 2013*
The stamps are now available and may be ordered here.
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Syndicated on Science Borealis
Beautifully done! Congratulations!
Fantastic! I love the concept of a facial close up with how they look in their habitats at night.
Thank you, Karen and Sylvia.
Can’t wait to purchase some. They are beautiful.
Thanks. Very interesting site.