Set of 4: USA-USSR Joint Issue Sea Animals Series

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1990 Northern Sea Liom 25 FIRST DAY OF ISSUE OCTOBER 3, 1990 MOSCOW, USSR BALTIMORE MD 21233, USA Deay Ellis 1990 Common Dolphin 25 FIRST DAY OF ISSUE ОСТОВER 3, 1990 MOSCOW, USSR 233 USA FMORESMD 21 Diey Elis 1990 25 Killer Whale FIRST DAY OF ISSUE ОСТОВER 3, 1990 MOSCOW, USSR BADTIMORE, MD 21239, USA Day Ellis 1990 25 Sea Otter FIRST DAY OF ISSUE ОСТОВER 3, 1990 MOSCOW, USSR BALTIMORE, MD 21233, USA

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NORTHERN SEA LION - 1990 USSR-USA JOINT ISSUE First Day of Issue: October 3, 1990 First Issue Locations:Moscow, USSR and Baltimore, MD From the Soviet Union's Sea of Okhotsk to California's San Miguel Island, the month of May rings with the deep- throated roar of the Northern or Steller Sea Lion. May is the season when the huge bulls gather on isolated rocky shorelines to fight for a home territory and to gather harems of ten to twenty cows. The Steller Sea Lion is the largest of its family, with the males often attaining a weight of 2,000 pounds — three times as much as their mates. A shy animal, the Steller Sea Lion requires breed- ing ground far from the reaches of man. Today, some 250,000 sea lions live and breed on the rocky shorelines of Alaska, Russia and British Columbia. Range of the Northern Sea Lion No. 90-38 ©1990 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting for the Maximum Card by Dean Ellis COMMON DOLPHIN – 1990 USA-USSR JOINT ISSUE First Day of Issue: October 3, 1990 First Issue Locations: Baltimore, MD and Moscow, USSR The stuff of legend and lore, the Common Dolphin is both highly intelligent and credited with human-like emo- tions. Common Dolphins are known to rescue wounded and drowning members of their family, helping them to the surface to breath and giving support while swimming. Primarily a denizen of tropical and warm waters, the Common Dolphin rarely ventures into the coastlines and estuaries, preferring the open ocean. Perhaps this is because man has been known to kill the dolphins here. So severe was this predation that the Soviets banned its capture in 1966. Other countries followed suit. ནུབ Range of the Common Dolphin No. 90-40 ©1990 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting for the Maximum Card by Dean Ellis KILLER WHALE – 1990 USA-USSR JOINT ISSUE First Day of Issue: October 3, 1990 First Issue Locations: Baltimore, MD and Moscow, USSR Carnivores — on land and in the sea — have felt the wrath of mankind throughout history. The beautiful black and white Killer Whale is no exception to this rule. The largest of the porpoise family, the Killer Whale has obtained a bad reputation as willing to eat anything in sight includ- ing, sometimes, man himself. Even the whale's name is a reflection of that claim. However, the last three decades have drawn a more accurate picture of the strikingly- marked whale. Today, Orcinus orca is found in aquari- ums throughout the world, where thousands are en- thralled by the animal's intelligence and gentleness. Range of the Killer Whale No. 90-37 ©1990 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 ® Original painting for the Maximum Card by Dean Ellis SEA OTTER – 1990 USSR-USA JOINT ISSUE First Day of Issue: October 3, 1990 First Issue Locations:Moscow, USSR and Baltimore, MD In the cold waters of the North, most sea mammals depend upon layers of fat for insulation. Few animals wear a coat as thick, clean and luxurious as the Sea Otter. For this reason alone, the Sea Otter was edged close to extermination by hunters who wanted their valuable pelts. In 1911, an agreement was signed between Russia and the United States and other countries which stopped the slaughter, but less than 2,000 animals remained worldwide. Today, this graceful swimmer, though threat- ened by new dangers such as pollution, has rebounded. Range of the Sea Otter No. 90-39 ©1990 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting for the Maximum Card by Dean Ellis