The name of the tribe, Apsáalooke had been mistranslated by early interpreters as "people of [the] crows." It actually meant "children of the large-beaked bird," a name given to them by their neighboring tribe, the Hidatsa. The bird, perhaps now extinct, was defined as a fork-tailed bird resembling the blue jay or magpie. They first encountered Europeans in 1743, two Frenchmen (the La Verendryes brothers from Canada), near the present-day town of Hardin, Montana. These explorers called the Apsáalooke beaux hommes, "handsome men." The Crow termed Europeans as baashchíile, "person with yellow eyes."
Some have placed the early home of the Crow-Hidatsa ancestral tribe as being around the head waters of the Mississippi River in either northern Minnesota or Wisconsin; others place them in Winnipeg area of Manitoba. Later they moved to the Devil's Lake region of North Dakota before the Crow split from the Hidatsa and moved westward. Once established in Montana and Wyoming, the tribe was eventually divided in two divisions, the Mountain Crow and River Crow. As the United States expanded, the tribe was forced westward where it became nomadic and was influenced by the Plains culture. In 1851, a treaty signed at Fort Laramie, Wyoming gave the Crow 38.5 million acres in Montana. By 1888, the Crow were confined to their present reservation which covers 1,566,980 acres and encompasses the Little Big Horn battlefield. The face value does not appear on the unused stamps as different prices were charged to Tribal Members, and Non-Tribal members.

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

Stamps were first issued by the Crow Reservation in 1992. All of the stamps were issued in panes of five (1x5) with a tab at the top. They are self-adhesive with peelable Mactac Starliner backing. There is a space provided for the license agent to fill in the license number, date of issue, expiration date and the fee. This suggests that the stamps were
intended to be used for several years.
Stamps were only used through 1995.
Current regulations suggest new permits may be required for the 2011 season, but none are available as of print date.

Paper color Mint Used on license
CW 1 1992 Fishing Ser #1-250 blue on white 130.00 45.00 125.00
CW 2 1992 Upland Game Ser #1-250 blue on white 60.00 25.00 85.00
CW 2v 1992 Upland Game - no serial # blue on white 12.00
CW 3 1992 Waterfowl Ser #1-250 blue on white 125.00 50.00 150.00
Full pane of 5 with CW #3A 850.00
CW 3v 1992 Waterfowl - no serial # blue on white 15.00
Full pane of 5 with CW #3av 160.00
CW 3A 1992 Waterfowl Pos #3 Variety blue on white 325.00 150.00 350.00
CW 3Av 1992 Waterfowl variety no serial # blue on white 85.00
CW 4 1993 Fishing Ser #251-650 blue on white 25.00 15.00 50.00
Stamps with no serial numbers were issued but never placed into use. They were intended to be used if supplies of the dated stamps were exhausted.
Paper color Mint Used on license
CW 5 1993 Upland Game Ser #251-650 blue on white ----- -----
CW 6 1993 Waterfowl Ser #251-650 blue on white ----- -----
CW 6A 1993 Waterfowl Pos #3 Variety blue on white ----- -----
CW 7 1994 Fishing (No borders) blue on white 24.00 15.00 50.00
CW 7v 1994 Fishing -no serial # blue on white 14.00
CW 8 1995 Fishing blue & black on white 24.00 15.00 50.00

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

CW #1

CW #2

CW #3

CW #2v

CW #4

CW #3av

CW #3a

CW #3v

CW #7v

CW #6a

CW #6

CW #5

CW #8

CW #7

CW 2 & 3 on Tribal license

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

In 1995, a special bison permit was issued. Although not a stamp, it is an interesting collateral item. Price $15.00

CW 1 & 3 on Tribal license

CW 3a on Tribal license

Special Bison Hunting Permit

Crow Page 1

Crow Page 2

Crow Page 3

Crow Page 4

Crow Page 5

CW 3 Full Pane showing CW 3a variety

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