Crow Creek Resumes Stamp Program
Semi-Pictorial Stamps Issued
The 1994 Crow Creek stamps were printed by Register-Lakota Printing in 79 Chamberlain, South Dakota. Different colors of ink were used to print stamps for three classifications of sportsmen. Green ink was used to print the stamps issued to tribal members; blue ink was used for the stamps issued to both affiliate members and reservation residents*; and red ink was used for the stamps issued to both South Dakota residents and non-residents of the state. All of the stamps were printed on white paper and were serial numbered in black (see Figures 3 and 4).
Figure 3. Semi Pictorial stamps were printed for the Fall 1994 seasons.
*The current Hunting Guide for the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation defined “Reservation Affiliates” as “Employees of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Indian.”
Unlike the Crow Creek Stamps of 1989 and 1990 (which were numbered continuously by series), all of the different types of 1994 stamps were serial numbered independently, i.e. “1-XXX.” The stamps were issued in booklet panes of five (1×5) with a tab at the top. They were rouletted between the stamps and the tab. Five panes were stapled together to form a booklet.
A Total of 24 different stamps were issued in 1994, including separate stamps for fishing and trapping (see Figure 4). In 1989 and 1990, fishing and trapping privileges were conveyed by an all-inclusive sportsman’s stamp. Only tribal members are allowed to trap on the Crow Creek Reservation. Sportsman’s stamps are no longer issued by the tribe.
Figure 4. Trapping stamps were printed and issued to tribal members only.
There were two printing errors made on the 1994 stamps. The daily small and upland game stamps for South Dakota residents and non-residents were first printed with a face value of $30.00, when the fee was actually $40.00 (see Figure 5). At the same time the daily waterfowl stamps for South Dakota residents and non-residents were printed with a face value of $25.00, when the fee was actually $30.00 (see Figure 6).
Figure 5. 1994 SD/NR Daily error. The correct fee was $40.
Figure 6. 1994 SD/ NR Daily waterfowl error. The correct fee was $30.
The stamps were distributed to vendors prior to Crow Creek Wildlife personnel discovering the errors. Once discovered, the error stamps were immediately recalled and replaced with corrected versions—but not before many had already been sold to hunters (Willman, 1994). In addition to the face value changes, the corrected versions of both stamps were printed in a much darker red ink than the error stamps. For a description of all 1994 Crow Creek stamps, see Table 1.
