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A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE 51ST (1984-85) DUCK STAMP ARTIST

William C. Morris was born in Mobile, Alabama, on June 8, 1945.   He began sketching and enjoying the natural world around him during early field trips as a young boy.  Despite his interest in art, he studied engineering in college and joined Chevron Oil on graduation.  On his own, he tried some watercolors, and one, a painting of football coach "Bear" Bryant, stirred up so much interest that he published a limited edition of a thousand prints.  they sold out if four weeks and opened up a second career for him.  Many of his original works are not in private collections.  His success in winning the Federal Duck Stamp print and the 1984 Alabama Duck Stamp contests have made his workd even more highly prized by collectors.

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

Widgeons was done in full-color acrylic. The print is by  photolithography using special lite-fast inks on Rising Mirage stock.  The separation negative maker and the printer was Mueller-Krus.   It was hand signed and numbered in pencil. The edition was 20,400 regular signed and numbered prints and 11,500 with 24 caret gold plated medallions.  The  The image size is 6-1/2" x 9".  The medallion is full struck 2 3/32"x1-5/16"

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

Widgeons...Engraved by the Federal Bureau of Engraving from the original artwork.   Printed in full color.  The stamp sold for seven dollars and fifty cents.  Postal records show 1,913,509 stamps sold.  First day of sale was July 2, 1984.