Walter Alois Weber (Amer., 1906-1979), "White Fronted Geese", federal duck stamp design, original artist proof limited edition lithograph, 1944-45, accompanied by finished postage stamp; not framed, accompanied by original gallery label from Abercrombie & Fitch's Madison Ave. New York location

image: 8 x 10 in., sheet: 10 x 13.5 in.

Provenance: Property from a home in San Antonio, Texas

Walter A. Weber, born in 1906 in Chicago, Illinois, was a renowned American wildlife artist, scientific illustrator, and naturalist known for his modernist figure painting and sculpture with a strong focus on the natural world. A precocious talent, Weber developed an early fascination with animals and plants, which led him to study zoology and botany at the University of Chicago, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1927. He pursued formal art training at the Church School of Art, the American Academy of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. At age 22, he began his professional career as a scientific illustrator at the Field Museum, which launched a lifetime of fieldwork and artistic exploration across six continents. Weber worked on numerous expeditions, including with the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society, for whom he served as staff artist and naturalist. Celebrated for his detailed and expressive depictions of wildlife, Weber’s work bridged art and science, earning him the U.S. Department of the Interior's Conservation Service Award in 1967 for his exceptional contributions to public understanding of wildlife and conservation.