Guam Hunting License, An Elusive Stamps

1982 Guam $5, Hunting License Stamp,

Perforation 14,  Watermarked Paper

Do you have any impression when you are looking on vignette of the above stamp? As a Beginner collector, we may randomly focusing on the face value or perforation or colour rather than purpose of issuance and also issued dates. That’s all we could prescribe about the stamp at this  moment.  

However, when we think deeply this could be something special about the stamp. Let’s looks on the vignette (centre part of the stamp), where featuring a bird as the thematic exhibit that could be something special.

Let’s start searching on the information via internet or any reference books. The bird is an extinct species on Guam. People call them as ‘Totot’ or in scientific name so-called ‘Mariana Fruit Dove’.

According to Hunting Regulations (Chapter 11) in Guam, Hunting License is deemed required. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, kill, wound or shoot any protected wild mammal or bird without first obtaining a general hunting license from Government of Guam, Department of Agriculture (previously known as the Fish and Wildlife Department) or any authorised licensing agent. The license is valid for the period October 1 to September 30, inclusive, of the fiscal year for which it is issued. The hunting license fee is Ten Dollars ($10.00) as mentioned in the article was issued on February 15, 1975 and amended on October 9, 1990.

However, the Guam hunting license stamps were issued only from 1977 to 1987. Hence, there is 10 different stamps were issued in 10 years period before it was not continued. The stamps were printed in total of 16 hunting license stamps per pane, 4 blocks per pane, 4 stamps per block. There are no specific catalogue values and also very limited editions. These stamps can be considered as elusive stamps with their owned commercial and heritage value. The selling price is ranging from $45 to $60 per stamp.

1983 Guam $5, Hunting License Stamp,

Perforation 14,  Watermarked Paper,

Featuring Micronesian Kingfisher (Sihek)

Endangered Species

1981 Guam $5, block of 4 Hunting License Stamps,

Perforation 14,  Watermarked Paper,

Featuring Micronesian Honeyeaster (Egigi)

Not seen in the wild on Guam since 1986