"Ducks on the Delta – Pintail" Framed Art Print by Sherrie Russell Meline

This item is a limited edition wildlife art print titled "Ducks on the Delta – Pintail" by the renowned artist Sherrie Russell Meline. The artwork is a detailed monochromatic rendering, possibly graphite or charcoal, featuring a male Northern Pintail duck in a wetland setting with tall grasses and a mountainous horizon in the background. A smaller duck head is visible in the lower right foreground. The piece is hand-signed by the artist in the lower right of the image and specifically identified as number 1 of 75, indicating high rarity for this particular edition series. The print is professionally presented in an elaborate multi-layered matting system with grey, black, and gold-trimmed bevels. Below the artwork, a cutout in the mat reveals printed text crediting the artist and likely referencing a specific Ducks Unlimited chapter or event (2001 California Ducks Unlimited). The item is housed in a decorative black and gold wooden or composite frame. Notable condition issues include visible damage to the top edge of the frame where the gold finish and black coating have chipped away. The glass and matting appear intact. The style is classic wildlife realism, characteristic of late 20th to early 21st-century sporting art.

Based on my examination of the images provided, this is a limited edition offset lithograph titled 'Ducks on the Delta – Pintail' by Sherrie Russell Meline, a celebrated artist known widely for her Federal Duck Stamp victories. The piece is notably marked as number 1 of an edition of 75, a 'Sponsor' or special chapter edition likely created for the 2001 California Ducks Unlimited events. Being #1 in the series adds a specific premium to collectors who value low serial numbers. The monochromatic graphite-style rendering is executed with Meline's characteristic precision. Condition is a significant factor here. While the artwork and elaborate triple-matting appear well-preserved under glass, the frame exhibits notable impact damage along the top edge, with loss of finish and substrate visibility. This damage necessitates reframing or significant restoration, which detracts from the immediate resale value. Authenticity appears highly probable given the presence of the signature and the correct Ducks Unlimited context, though definitive verification of the signature would require close inspection with a loupe to distinguish live ink from the printed matrix. The market for Ducks Unlimited prints has softened considerably since the early 2000s. While Meline is a top-tier artist in this genre, the secondary market is saturated with DU banquet prints. Most realized prices for similar famed prints hover between $50 and $120. However, the #1/75 distinction pushes this estimate slightly higher despite the frame damage. Without the frame issues, the value would likely sit in the $200-$250 range.