The 1957 3-cent Whooping Crane stamp is a poignant and visually striking piece of postal art. Also designed by Bob Hines, it depicts two cranes in flight against a blue sky, with a third standing in its marshland habitat below. The design effectively captures the grace of the species and the fragility of its existence. At the time of the stamp's release, the Whooping Crane was on the brink of extinction, with only one migratory flock remaining. The population had plummeted from an estimated 1,400 in the 1860s to just 21 individuals by 1941. The first day of issue in New Orleans was significant, as Louisiana was historically part of the crane's wintering grounds, and the nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas was the primary winter home for the last remaining flock. This stamp served as a powerful educational tool, bringing the plight of this iconic bird to mailboxes across the country and galvanizing public support for the intensive conservation efforts that have since helped the population slowly recover.