American Lobster Stamps (North American Wildlife Series, Marine Life, Multicolored) Vintage Unused USPS Postage 22c

Part of the 1987 American Wildlife series, this 22-cent postage stamp showcases a detailed illustration of the American Lobster, commonly found along the Atlantic coast of North America. The stamp’s artwork captures the lobster's distinctive features, including its large claws and segmented body.

American lobsters (Homarus americanus) are found primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, along the eastern coast of North America (in the U.S. States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and on the Canadian coast including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador). Their range extends from Labrador, Canada, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with the highest populations concentrated in the colder, rocky coastal waters of New England and Atlantic Canada.

The American Lobster holds unique spiritual symbolism, often connected to transformation, protection, resilience, and emotional depth. As a creature that molts its shell in order to grow, the lobster is a powerful symbol of personal growth, renewal, and shedding old layers to embrace new phases of life. It is also associated with strength, endurance, and the ability to navigate difficult emotions and experiences. The lobster is perhaps best known for its process of molting, in which it sheds its old shell to grow a new, larger one. This process symbolizes transformation and personal evolution. Spiritually, the lobster calls you to embrace change and growth, understanding that sometimes you must let go of the old to make room for something new. It encourages you to shed outdated beliefs, habits, or fears that no longer serve you and embrace the process of renewal. The American Lobster spirit is a reminder to embrace change, trust in your resilience, and honor your emotional depths. It encourages you to shed the old, protect your energy, and move forward with patience and grace.

This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. This means that the stamps required licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces.

On June 13, 1987, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued the North American Wildlife postage stamp series, a commemorative sheet featuring 50 different gummed 22-cent stamps. This release celebrated the rich diversity of North American fauna, showcasing species from various regions, including Alaska and Hawaii. Renowned wildlife artist Chuck Ripper illustrated the series, capturing the essence of each species with remarkable accuracy and detail. The stamps not only highlight the animals but also incorporate elements of their natural habitats, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation. USPS and The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) originally hoped to represent the State Animal of all 50 states. However, many states do not have a State Animal or share a State Animal with another state. Instead, USPS and CSAC opted to include avifauna, mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates from across the continent. Notably, the First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the Canadian Philatelic Exhibition (CAPEX) in Toronto, Canada, marking the third time a U.S. stamp issue had its inaugural event outside the United States. The North American Wildlife stamp series remains a favorite among collectors and nature enthusiasts, serving as a vivid reminder of the continent's rich and varied wildlife heritage.

These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly suitable for use as current postage for mailing with USPS, as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing.