Save Vanishing Species™

With the issuance of the Save Vanishing Species™ semipostal, the U.S. Postal Service is proud to support conservation funds that are helping to create hope for the future. Under the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010, the Postal Service will transfer the net proceeds from the sale of this stamp to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the Multinational Species Conservation Funds. As of 2011, these funds include the African Elephant Conservation Fund, the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, and the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund. Silhouettes of animals representing each fund appear on the bottom of the stamp pane, including a rhinoceros, a tiger, a gorilla, an African elephant, an Asian elephant, and a sea turtle.

The stamp features an illustration of an Amur tiger cub created by artist Nancy Stahl. Stahl based both the stamp art and the silhouettes on photographs of wildlife. She has previously created illustrations for several animal stamps, including Dolphin (2009), Dragonfly (2008), and Florida Panther (2007), all designed in a bold, graphic style.

Derry Noyes served as the art director, designer, and typographer for the stamp. Noyes chose to focus on the tiger because of the strong, graphic quality of its markings.

The phrases “Save Vanishing Species” and “Amur tiger cub” appear on the left side of the stamp.