U.S. Notes Cartoon Contest November 12, 2012

By John M. Hotchner

The reindeer's earring on the cartoon caption contest stamp for November – one of the 2009 Christmas stamps, pictured in Figure 4 – was what caught the attention of most readers who entered. And most of those made some connection to Rudolph and the legend of his nose-so-bright.

Joel Meyerson of Annandale, Va., expressed it this way: "Rudolph...Your nose! What happened to your nose?"

Dale Schubert from Lawrenceville, Ga., has the reindeer on the stamp saying, "Hey Guys! Guess what? I found Rudolph's nose."

Another theme was the "reindeer games" line from the song Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer. Combining that and the red ball decoration, Laura Gilbert of Glen Burnie, Md., suggests: "Reindeer games? Very funny, guys!"

The last topic inspiring multiple entries was the 44¢ denomination of this stamp, which Louis Vandorsky of Baltimore, Md., translated to "I'm not forever, but Christmas is!"

The philatelic line winner comes from Antonio Len-Rios of South Saint Paul, Minn. It refers to the separation method used with the 2009 Christmas issues: "Being die cut was scary, but it didn't hurt at all."

On the nonphilatelic side of the contest, Rev. Thomas Misiewicz of Martinsburg, W.Va., wins the prize with the line in Figure 4 featuring his own state.

Both winners will receive Linn's Stamp Identifier published by Amos Hobby Publishing, or a 13-week subscription to Linn's (a new subscription or an extension). The book has a retail value of $12.99.

Here are a few of the runners-up:

"I don't care what Santa says, I'm not taking my earring off!" from Arthur Richardsen of Swampscott, Mass.

"Let's see, I need a blue ornament for my other side to be politically correct and balanced for flight," by Terry Jordan from Potomac Falls, Va.

"Oh! Oh! Put Christmas on hold! Comet just stepped on Santa's GPS!" from Jo-An Watson of Kalamazoo, Mich.

"Santa, I just saved a bunch of money on your sleigh insurance by switching to Geico," sent in by Stan

Saunders of Athens, Ohio.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all who entered.

The next cartoon caption contest will be announced in the Jan. 14 Linn's