California
Hunting License Validating Stamps
Starting with the 1962-63 season, California printed one type of generic hunting license. The licenses were differentiated by separate hunting license validating stamps for residents, resident juniors and non residents. All of the stamps were non-pictorial with the exception of the resident stamps for 1970-71. The 1970-71 resident stamps featured an image of the California golden bear in the background, and served to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the California Department of Fish and Game. The hunting license validation stamps were the first required statewide to hunt waterfowl, along with other game birds and mammals, in California. When pictorial duck stamps were issued starting in 1971, both state stamps wererequired in addition to a federal waterfowl stamp.
The stamps were self-adhesive which required a protective backing. The 1962-63 stamps were issued in booklet panes of five (5x1) with a tab at the left. Five panes were stapled together to form a booklet. The stamps were issued with a plain rouletted tab at the top but were otherwise imperforate. When the validation stamps were issued, the date was written on the stamps with a pen. In addition, deer, bear, pheasant or shipping tag numbers were frequently written on the stamps. The most famous error in this long series occurred on the 1976-77 stamps for juniors, when "Deer Tag No." was printed under two separate lines on stamps from position one. This has become known as the "Deer-Deer Error". The normal stamps had lines for deer and bear tag numbers to be filled in.
Starting with the 1963-64 issues, the stamps were die cut, mounted on a protective backing and issued in fold-out booklets containing 25, 10 and five stamps for the three classifications, respectively. All stamps through 1968-69 have serial numbers printed in red ink. Starting with the 1969-70 issues, all stamps were numbered in black with the exception of the 1970-71 resident stamps which were numbered in blue. The serial numbers have three components. The left portion is an "H" indicating that the serial number pertains to hunting license validation stamps (as opposed to fishing). The center portion specifies the number of the booklet which contained the stamp. The right portion is a position number indicating the relative placement of the stamp within the booklet.
As originally reported by E. L.Vanderford (1973), California printed approximately 200 resident stamps each year for purchase by state officials. This practice started with the 1962-63 issues and continued through at least the 1974-75 issues. Known as "special prestige" stamps, the few recorded examples can be distinguished from regular resident stamps as follows: 1968-69 stamps are missing both the "H" and the position component fi-om the serial number; 1969-70 stamps are missing the position component from the serial number and were printed on light green paper vs. white for the regular stamps, and the 1974-75 stamps are missing the "H" as well as the position component from the serial number. In addition, the special prestige stamps were affixed to license forms with matching serial numbers printed on them.
Resident stamps were overprinted "NO FEE" with a rubber stamp and issued to disabled veterans at no charge through the 1980-81 season. A small number of stamps for each classification were overprinted "DUPLICATE" and issued to hunters who reported their original license and stamp as lost or destroyed prior to the end of the season. Stamps overprinted "VOID" were samples sent to the printer to be used as proofs the following year. Occasionally these were returned to the license section by the printer and subsequently given to collectors by friendly clerks.
Stamps issued from 1993-94 through 1995-96, had a white stripe printed on them so that the serial number was more readily visible. California discontinued issuing hunting license validating stamps following the 1995-96 seasons. At this time, the state resumed printing separate license forms for resident, junior and non-resident hunters. For more in-depth information, see Hunting License Validating Stamps.
Unsigned values are for unused stamps, free from any notations, that have been removed from their backing paper. This was once a common practice among collectors in order to prevent the adhesive from possibly migrating through the stamps and discoloring their face. Unsigned values for 1962-63 stamps are for those with the tab attached.
| Series Number | Figure Number | Validity Period | Face Value | Description | Unused Value | Unsigned Value | Signed Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | F-CA3 | 1962-63 | $4.00 | black and red on white, resident on license | 650.00 | 400.00 | 5.00 7.00 |
| 1a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 250.00 | 200.00 | 250.00 425.00 |
|||
| 2. | F-CA3 | 1962-63 | $1.00 | black and red on yellow, junior on license | 2,250.00 | 1,550.00 | 75.00 95.00 |
| 3. | F-CA3 | 1962-63 | $25.00 | black and red on green, non-resident on license | 4,500.00 | 3,750.00 | 175.00 225.00 |
| 4. | F-CA4 | 1963-64 | $4.00 | black and red on green, resident on license | – | 2.00 4.00 |
|
| 4a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | – – |
|||||
| 5. | F-CA4 | 1963-64 | $1.00 | black and red on gray, junior on license | – | – | 20.00 30.00 |
| 6. | F-CA4 | 1963-64 | $25.00 | black and red on yellow-orange, non-resident on license | 650.00 | ||
| 7. | F-CA4 | 1964-65 | $4.00 | black and red on pink, resident on license | 30.00 | 15.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 7a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 250.00 | 200.00 | 250.00 400.00 |
|||
| 8. | F-CA4 | 1964-65 | $1.00 | black and red on yellow-brown, junior on license | 300.00 | 225.00 | 25.00 35.00 |
| 9. | F-CA4 | 1964-65 | $25.00 | black and red on dark gray, non-resident on license overprinted "VOID" | 450.00 | 75.00 95.00 |
|
| 10. | F-CA4 | 1965-66 | $4.00 | black and red on gray, resident on license | 20.00 | 10.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 10a. | overprinted "No Fee" for disabled veterans on license | – – |
|||||
| 11. | F-CA4 | 1965-66 | $1.00 | black and red on yellow-gray, junior on license | 150.00 | 25.00 35.00 |
|
| 12. | F-CA4 | 1965-66 | $25.00 | black and red on ivory, non-resident on license | 450.00 | 75.00 95.00 |
|
| 13. | F-CA4 | 1966-67 | $4.00 | black and red on salmon, resident on license | 20.00 | 10.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 13a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 350.00 | |||||
| 14. | F-CA4 | 1966-67 | $1.00 | black and red on light blue, junior on license | 75.00 | 45.00 | 10.00 20.00 |
| 14a. | light blue color missing along right side | - | |||||
| 15. | F-CA4 | 1966-67 | $25.00 | black and red on burgandy, non-resident on license | 375.00 | 75.00 95.00 |
|
| 16. | F-CA4 | 1967-68 | $4.00 | black and red on yellow, resident on license | 20.00 | 10.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 16a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabaled veterans on license | 325.00 | |||||
| 16b. | booklet number missing, written in with a ballpoint pen | 950.00 | |||||
| 16c. | position number missing | 350.00 | |||||
| 16d. | yellow color missing along right side | - | |||||
| 17. | F-CA4 | 1967-68 | $1.00 | black and red on green, junior on license | 45.00 | 25.00 | 5.00 10.00 |
| 17a. | black and red on yellow-gray, paper error on license | – – |
|||||
| 18. | F-CA4 | 1967-68 | $25.00 | black and red on brown, non-resident on license | 75.00 | 45.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 19. | F-CA4 | 1968-69 | $4.00 | black on pink, resident on license | 55.00 | 25.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 19a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 325.00 | |||||
| 19b. | special "prestige number" for state officials on license | – | |||||
| 20. | F-CA4 | 1968-69 | $1.00 | black on blue-gray, junior on license | 175.00 | 125.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 20a. | overprinted "DUPLICATE" in black on license | – | |||||
| 21. | F-CA4 | 1968-69 | $25.00 | black on light orange, non-resident on license | 85.00 125.00 |
||
| 22. | F-CA4 | 1969-70 | $4.00 | black on white, resident on license | 45.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 22a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 325.00 | |||||
| 22b. | special "prestiege number" for state officials, black on light green on license | – | |||||
| 23. | F-CA4 | 1969-70 | $1.00 | black on dark pink, junior on license | 175.00 | 110.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 24. | F-CA4 | 1969-70 | $25.00 | black on light yellow, non-resident on license | 70.00 | 35.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 25. | F-CA4 | 1970-71 | $4.00 | blue on manila, resident on license | 65.00 | 35.00 | 2.00 5.00 |
| 25a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 1,500.00 | 900.00 1,250.00 |
||||
| 25b. | overprinted "DUPLICATE" in red on license | – | |||||
| 26. | F-CA4 | 1970-71 | $1.00 | black on blue-gray, junior on license | 75.00 | 30.00 | 10.00 20.00 |
| 27. | F-CA4 | 1970-71 | $25.00 | black on gray-brown, non resident on license | 75.00 | 55.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 28. | F-CA4 | 1971-72 | $4.00 | black on green, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 28a. | overprinted "NO FEE" for disabled veterans on license | 325.00 | |||||
| 28b. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERAN/NO FEE" on license | 450.00 | |||||
| 28c. | green color missing along right side | – | |||||
| 29. | F-CA4 | 1971-72 | $1.00 | black on lavender, junior on license | 95.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
|
| 30. | F-CA4 | 1971-72 | $25.00 | black on peach, non-resident on license | 275.00 | 175.00 | 35.00 60.00 |
| 31. | F-CA4 | 1972-73 | $6.00 | black on pink, resident on license | 55.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
|
| 31a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | 450.00 | |||||
| 32. | F-CA4 | 1972-73 | $2.00 | black on light yellow, junior on license | 30.00 40.00 |
||
| 33. | F-CA4 | 1972-73 | $35.00 | black on lavender, non-resident on license | 225.00 | 125.00 | 35.00 60.00 |
| 34. | F-CA4 | 1973-74 | $6.00 | black on blue, resident on license | 35.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
|
| 34a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | 450.00 | |||||
| 35. | F-CA4 | 1973-74 | $2.00 | black on lavender, junior on license | 175.00 | 100.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 36. | F-CA4 | 1973-74 | $35.00 | black on gray, non-resident on license | 275.00 | 175.00 | 35.00 60.00 |
| 37. | F-CA4 | 1974-75 | $6.00 | black on green, resident on license | 35.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 37a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE on license | – | 475.00 | ||||
| 37b. | special "prestige number" for state officials on license | – – |
|||||
| 38. | F-CA4 | 1974-75 | $2.00 | black on orange, junior on license | 20.00 30.00 |
||
| 39. | F-CA4 | 1974-75 | $35.00 | black on reddish-purple, non-resident on license | 175.00 | 100.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 40. | F-CA4 | 1975-76 | $10.00 | red-brown on brown, resident on license | 40.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 40a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | – | 500.00 | ||||
| 41. | F-CA4 | 1975-76 | $2.00 | black on dark red, junior on license | 80.00 | 50.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 42. | F-CA4 | 1975-76 | $35.00 | black on yellow, non-resident on license | 85.00 | 50.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 43. | F-CA4 | 1976-77 | $10.00 | black on blue, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 43a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | 750.00 | |||||
| 44. | F-CA4 | 1976-77 | $2.00 | black on gray-violet, junior on license | 100.00 | 70.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 44a. | stamps from position one have "Deer Tag No." printed under the line where "Bear Tag No." should be printed, in error on license | – | |||||
| 44b. | stamps from position nine have "Dear Tag No." printed under the line where "Deer Tag No." should be printed, in error on license | – | |||||
| 45. | F-CA4 | 1976-77 | $35.00 | black on lavender, non-resident on license | 85.00 | 55.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 46. | F-CA4 | 1977-78 | $10.00 | black on red-orange, resident on license | 25.00 | 15.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 46a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | 450.00 550.00 |
|||||
| 47. | F-CA4 | 1977-78 | $2.00 | black on yellow-green, junior on license | 70.00 | 35.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 48. | F-CA4 | 1977-78 | $35.00 | black on pink, non-resident on license | 95.00 | 65.00 | 35.00 60.00 |
| 49. | F-CA4 | 1978-79 | $10.00 | black on yellow, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 49a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERANS/NO FEE" on license | 425.00 |
|||||
| 49b. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERAN" on license | – | |||||
| 50. | F-CA4 | 1978-79 | $2.00 | black on red, junior on license | 70.00 | 35.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 51. | F-CA4 | 1978-79 | $35.00 | black on light brown, non-resident on license | 85.00 | 45.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 51a. | on heavy glassine backing | – | |||||
| 52. | F-CA4 | 1979-80 | $10.00 | black on red, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 52a. | overprinted "Disabled Veterans/NO FEE" on license | 425.00 525.00 |
|||||
| 52b. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERAN" on license | – | |||||
| 53. | F-CA4 | 1979-80 | $2.00 | black on yellow-green, junior on license | 70.00 | 35.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 54. | F-CA4 | 1979-80 | $35.00 | black on dark blue, non-resident on license | 85.00 | 45.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 55. | F-CA4 | 1980-81 | $10.25 | black on blue, resident on license | 25.00 | 15.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 55a. | overprinted "DISABLED VETERNS/NO FEE" on license | 1,100.00 | |||||
| 56. | F-CA4 | 1980-81 | $2.00 | black on light brown, junior on license | 50.00 | 25.00 | 15.00 25.00 |
| 57. | F-CA4 | 1980-81 | $36.25 | black on tan, non-resident on license | 65.00 | 35.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 58. | F-CA4 | 1981-82 | $11.50 | black on dark green, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 59. | F-CA4 | 1981-82 | $2.25 | black on blue, junior on license | 75.00 | 45.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 60. | F-CA4 | 1981-82 | $40.00 | black on gray, non-resident on license | 200.00 | 100.00 | 35.00 60.00 |
| 61. | F-CA4 | 1982-83 | $12.50 | black on pink, resident on license | 30.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 62. | F-CA4 | 1982-83 | $2.50 | black on brown, junior on license | 75.00 | 45.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 63. | F-CA4 | 1982-83 | $43.50 | black on orange, non-resident on license | 140.00 | 85.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 64. | F-CA4 | 1983-84 | $13.50 | black on blue, resident on license | 50.00 | 30.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 65. | F-CA4 | 1983-84 | $2.75 | black on purple, junior on license | 150.00 | 95.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 66. | F-CA4 | 1983-84 | $46.50 | black on green, non-resident on license | 175.00 | 125.00 | 25.00 |
| 67. | F-CA4 | 1984-85 | $13.25 | black on yellow, resident on license | 50.00 | 30.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 68. | F-CA4 | 1984-85 | $2.75 | black on green, junior on license | 150.00 | 95.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 69. | F-CA4 | 1984-85 | $49.25 | black on brown, non-resident on license | 175.00 | 125.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 70. | F-CA4 | 1985-86 | $14.00 | black on blue, resident on license | 50.00 | 30.00 | 1.00 1.50 |
| 71. | F-CA4 | 1985-86 | $3.50 | black on yellow, junior on license | 150.00 | 95.00 | 20.00 30.00 |
| 72. | F-CA4 | 1985-86 | $51.75 | black on purple, non-resident on license | 175.00 | 125.00 | 25.00 50.00 |
| 73. | F-CA4 | 1986-87 | $18.50 | black on green, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 74. | F-CA4 | 1986-87 | $4.50 | black on dark blue, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 75. | F-CA4 | 1986-87 | (information needed) | non-resident | |||
| 76. | F-CA4 | 1987-88 | $17.50 | black on dark blue, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 77. | F-CA4 | 1987-88 | $4.50 | black on purple, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 78. | F-CA4 | 1987-88 | (information needed) | non-resident | |||
| 79. | F-CA4 | 1988-89 | $19.25 | black on tan, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 80. | F-CA4 | 1988-89 | $5.00 | black on yellow, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 81. | F-CA4 | 1988-89 | (information needed) | non-resident | |||
| 82. | F-CA4 | 1989-90 | $19.75 | black on blue-gray, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 83. | F-CA4 | 1989-90 | $5.00 | black on dark green, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 84. | F-CA4 | 1989-90 | (information needed) | non-resident | |||
| 85. | F-CA4 | 1990-91 | $21.50 | black on reddish-gray, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 86. | F-CA4 | 1990-91 | $5.50 | black on yellow, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 87. | F-CA4 | 1990-91 | $73.00 | black on pink, non-resident on license | 25.00 40.00 |
||
| 88. | F-CA4 | 1991-92 | $23.10 | black on lime green, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 89. | F-CA4 | 1991-92 | $5.50 | black on bluish-purple, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 90. | F-CA4 | 1991-92 | $79.80 | black on brown, non-resident on license | 25.00 40.00 |
||
| 91. | F-CA4 | 1992-93 | $24.15 | black on yellow, resident on license | – | 1.00 1.50 |
|
| 92. | F-CA4 | 1992-93 | $5.80 | black on greenish-gold, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 93. | F-CA4 | 1992-93 | $83.75 | black on mauve, non-resident on license | – | 25.00 40.00 |
|
| 94. | F-CA6 | 1993-94 | $24.40 | black and white on green, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 95. | F-CA6 | 1993-94 | $5.80 | black and white on light blue, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 96. | F-CA6 | 1993-94 | - | (information needed) non resident | |||
| 97. | F-CA6 | 1994-95 | $24.95 | black and white on pale yellow, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 98. | F-CA6 | 1994-95 | $6.05 | black and white on lavender, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 99. | F-CA6 | 1994-95 | $86.90 | black and white on gray, non-resident on license | 25.00 40.00 |
||
| 100. | F-CA6 | 1995-96 | $24.45 | black and white on gray-brown, resident on license | 1.00 1.50 |
||
| 101. | F-CA6 | 1995-96 | $6.30 | black and white on pink, junior on license | 15.00 20.00 |
||
| 102. | F-CA6 | 1995-96 | $88.70 | black and white on pale blue, non-resident on license | 25.00 40.00 |
