Subject of winning Hamilton stamp captions no shocker

U.S. Stamp Notes — By John M. Hotchner

Tickets to the extremely popular Broadway musical Hamilton have gone through the roof, and that was the phenomenon addressed by most of the entries in the February cartoon caption contest featuring the 1956 $5 Hamilton stamp in the Liberty series.

For example, Gary Loew of Atlanta, Ga., brings in Hamilton’s origins with “Yikes! I can fly five round trips to Nevis, BWI for the cost of a ticket to see my own show!”

Another tack was taken by Lisa Woodridge of San Francisco, Calif., with “I’m quite familiar with sticker shock!”

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Hamilton’s disagreements with Vice President Aaron Burr motivated another group of entries. The result of their rivalry was a duel July 11, 1804, in which Burr mortally wounded Hamilton. 

Burr was not injured, but the event resulted in his being charged with murder in both New York and New Jersey. Though the charges were dropped in one state and he was acquitted in the other, his political career was ruined. 

Marvin Feibusch of Bronx, N.Y., has Hamilton remarking, “Another good argument for gun control!” 

A number of entries noted that Burr won the duel but Hamilton got the stamp. Jack Leonard of Hatboro, Pa., sent the line, “I hope this isn’t a duel issue!”

Rich Spector of Dublin, Ohio, supplied the line that won the nonphilatelic part of the contest. His entry reflects on the fact that, despite high ticket prices, Hamilton is sold out for every performance well into the future. 

On the philatelic side, John Hostetter of Lancaster, Pa., won with “I’ve arrived! I’m on money. I’m on stamps. And now I’m on Broadway!” 

Both winners will receive Linn’s Stamp Identifier published by Amos Media Co., 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 the best of the runners-up. 

“Duel? I thought you said I was going to do a duet with Mr. Burr!” from Steve Kotler of San Francisco, Calif. 

“In big hair we trust!” by Jack Trammell of Mineral, Va.

 “Tell me … Just what is a postage stamp?” sent by Simon Halburian of Saguache, Colo.

“Now we would settle our differences with tweets not duels,” from an anonymous Linn’s reader.

“Would have bet 5 bucks that no one would ever sing my praises on Broadway!” sent by Richard Thornton of Valparaiso, Ind.

“I’m off to Yorktown … Give my regards to Broadway!” from Mildred Barylski of Warrenton, Va. 

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

The next cartoon caption contest will be announced in the April 10 Linn’s.