Arthur and Alan D. Singer
American 1917 -

Born in 1917 in New York City, Arthur Singer developed a special affinity for animals as a child, and spent much of his time reading books about wildlife and visiting the Bronx Zoo. He stated, "I am a confirmed New Yorker. People think New York is the worst place for growing up with a love of nature. Actually, it's not. It has great museums that one does not find in smaller towns, and I could see birds and other animals that are not only common to the area, but those found in other parts of the country and the world."

Singer graduated from the famous Cooper Union Art School in 1939. His paintings have been on exhibit at the New York Zoological Society. In the late 1950s, he worked with noted ornithologist Oliver L. Austin, Jr. on a definitive and beautifully illustrated book called Birds of the World. Working with his son, Alan -- a skillful botanical artist -- Singer created a stunning collection of U.S. postage stamps called The Birds and Flowers of the 50 States.