America’s natural bounty includes an astounding variety of unique and priceless wildlife. Under the Endangered Species Act, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2023, more than 1,600 imperiled plant and animal species are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival. With this pane of 20 stamps, the U.S. Postal Service® presents a photographic portfolio of 20 representative endangered animal species. Those featured are found within the 50 states and American territories and possessions, or living near U.S. borders.

The word “Endangered” and the common name of the pictured species is printed on each stamp. The pane’s selvage features a larger version of the Roanoke logperch photograph with the issuance title, “Endangered Species.”



On the first row are: Laysan teal, black-footed ferret, Roanoke logperch, thick-billed parrot; second row: candy darter, Florida panther, masked bobwhite quail, Key Largo cotton mouse; third row: Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Wyoming toad, Vancouver Island marmot, golden-cheeked warbler; fourth row: Guam Micronesian kingfisher, San Francisco garter snake, Mexican gray wolf, Attwater’s prairie chicken; fifth row: Nashville crayfish, piping plover, desert bighorn sheep, Mississippi sandhill crane.

The colorful and charismatic endangered creatures presented on the stamps are selected from among more than 13,000 species featured in Joel Sartore's National Geographic Photo Ark project which aims to document every species living in the world's zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries; inspire action through education; and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts. No matter its size, each animal is treated with the same amount of affection and respect. The striking studio-style portraits are not just stunningly beautiful, but intimate and moving. "It's the eye contact that moves people," Sartore explains. "It engages their feelings of compassion and a desire to help."