Common mergonsers. 



1956-57 Duck Stamp Design 



species of waterfowl featured: Common merganser. 



Design: The original sketch, a black and white watercolor, features a pair of common or Ameri- 



ican mergansers flying low over fogbound water. 



Artist: Edward J. Bierly, 2723 South Buchanan Street, Arlington, Va. 



Philatelic Data 



Color: Blue-black. 



Designers: Central design by Edward J. Bierly; frame and lettering by William K. Schrage. 



Engravers: Vignette, Richard M. Bower; frame, lettering, and numerals, George A. Payne. 



Plate Numbers: 165826, 165827, 165829, and 165860 for face printing. Offset plate No. 52412 



for back printing. 



Inscribed: "U.S. Department of the Interior. Void after June 30, 1957. $2. American 



Merganser." 



First day of sale: July 1, 1956. 



Quantity sold: 2,332,014 



Twenty-third Duck Stamp; eighth $2 stamp. 



27 



