I'm guessing the U.S. Postal Service wishes more of its patrons were as loyal as some wildlife enthusiasts. I know they wish the buyers of their stamps were as enthusiastic as those who buy the annual duck stamp from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It sells countless millions of these $15 wonders to hunters, outdoor people, collectors and non-hunters of all types. The main reason is because duck stamps are consistently gorgeous.

The USPS isn't enjoying the same success. In fact, it is now upping the price of first-class stamps to 49 cents. As paper mail usage drops, rates go up. It's a bleak cycle that affects businesses more than individuals. But, of course, in the end, individuals end up paying.

Obviously, hope springs eternal that people will buy more stamps and help close the gap. To that end, the USPS continues to produce stamps that are more colorful. Or at least, some are.

In December, the Postal Service issued 20 stamps featuring images from the "Harry Potter" film series. It is an interesting array and could certainly boost the Warner Brothers franchise. In fairness, even though the stamps are colorful, they seem more like promotional trailers for the movies. Naturally, the hope is that fans of the films will buy the stamps and not use them. Only time will tell.

The USPS has given us a taste of what's to come over the next 12 months. It hopes each new issue and topic will be compelling enough for patrons and collectors alike to buy and save a few more. As in years past, there is enough variety to appeal to most anyone.

A few examples of what's on tap for 2014 stamps include: the Year of the Horse, hummingbirds, winter flowers and songbirds. Patriotic themes are captured with the USS Arizona, "Star-Spangled Banner," the Civil War and Korean War Medal of Honor. Famous people include: Shirley Chisholm, Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Ellison, Charlton Heston and Harvey Milk. Add to that, others saluting the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Pioneers of Graphic Design, the Chippendale Chair and global ocean surface temperatures. And this is roughly only half of what's planned for 2014.

So will all or any be popular enough for people to buy them en masse and collect them? Maybe. The Civil War stamps are a continuation of ones issued during the past few years for the 150th anniversary of the war. Civil War buffs and historians are sure to collect them.

The agency that produces the duck stamps doesn't have a problem with that. It runs a contest for the general public in which some of the best wildlife artists in the country compete. Artists don't get paid if their painting is selected. In fact, they have to pay $125 just to enter. Of course, sales of prints of the stamp art can be very profitable, and being chosen is a big career boost.

The key to duck stamp popularity is the quality of the image. The Fish and Wildlife Service folks give artists good hints on their website with questions such as:

—Is the composition strong with sufficient color contrast to emphasize detail and shading?

—Do elements such as shape and line appear strong enough that they do not blur together?

—Does the central design stand out from the background? Is it eye-catching?

—Is there space for lettering and numerals without overlapping the featured design elements?

—Is the background simple enough to facilitate these additional elements?

—Is the design original?

I would think these tips apply to any stamp. Perhaps the USPS can use them, too. Either way, duck stamp sales aren't over yet, even though the waterfowl-hunting season is just about done. The current duck stamp features a common goldeneye. The colors suggest there is nothing common about it. The stamp is a knockout and still available in most hunting stores.

For next year, a painting of a pair of canvasback ducks by artist Adam Grimm of South Dakota takes the prize and stamp. And, as soon as the new stamp comes out, most outlets stop selling the current one, so now's the time to snag one of the 2013 varieties. It would be a great start to the new year.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the 2013/2014 common goldeneye duck stamp has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.