On 6 March 2008, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a set of 12 stamps depicting endangered species of fauna. These will be the sixteenth set of stamps in UNPA’s multi-year series "Endangered Species". The series was launched on 3 March 1993 to highlight the need for the protection of endangered species throughout the world. This year the series "Endangered Species" feature a variety of marine life.

UNPA will issue three sheets of 16 stamps, one sheet in each of the three currencies. Four different endangered species will be illustrated on each sheet; hence, 12 species will be covered.

The Artist

The stamps were designed by Suzanne Duranceau. Ms. Duranceau was born, raised and educated in Montreal, Canada. After receiving her Diploma of Collegial Studies in French literature in 1972 at the College of General and Vocational Education of Saint-Laurent, Ms. Duranceau was admitted as a self-taught student to the Montreal School of Fine Arts, where she spent three years honing her skills in painting and etching. That was followed by a year of advanced training in cinema animation at the prestigious National Film Board of Canada, under the tutelage of film director Pierre Veilleux. It was during that time that Ms. Duranceau became acquainted with many talented background artists and, through them, discovered the world of illustration.

While initially coming to public attention as an illustrator of children’s books, Ms. Duranceau has, over the past 30 years, developed an international reputation as a freelance illustrator. Her work has appeared in periodicals (most notably Smithsonian Magazine), books, posters and advertisements. Ms. Duranceau has exhibited her work throughout Canada and the United States and in countries in Asia, Europe and South America.