This attractive First Day Cover is part of the American Wildlife series, featuring the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), a large hare native to western North America known for its long ears, powerful hind legs, and distinctive black-tipped tail, often seen bounding across deserts and open plains. The 22¢ stamp (Scott #2286, from the Wildlife booklet pane) depicts the jackrabbit in a natural pose amid desert flora, with detailed fur, alert ears, and a vibrant cactus flower in the background. The cachet artwork presents a charming, stylized scene: a large black-tailed jackrabbit sitting upright in a circular frame against a pinkish desert sky, its long ears and black-tipped tail prominent, surrounded by red desert flowers and grasses, all in warm earth tones with a folk-art feel signed "HF." Postmarked June 13, 1987 (issue date), at CAPEX '87 in Toronto, Canada (a major international stamp exhibition with special USPS station cancel)—this cover is a favorite among wildlife and mammal collectors, desert ecology philatelists, or those building sets on the American Wildlife series. It remains in excellent unaddressed vintage condition with soft, natural colors, clean composition, and no wear, perfect for nature or animal-themed collections.
