US Stamps

December cartoon caption contest winner might get muddy

Jan 14, 2025, 8 AM
The winner with the best nonphilatelic line for the December cartoon caption contest featuring the nondenominated (60¢) Pigpen forever stamp (Scott 5726e) from the Peanuts Comic Strip pane issued Sept. 30, 2022, was Mildred Barylski of Warrenton, Va.

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

Several Linn’s readers honed in on the most popular theme for our December cartoon caption contest, featuring the Peanuts comic strip character Pigpen. The nondenominated (60¢) forever stamp (Scott 5726e), shown in the box above, is from the 2022 pane of 20 (5726) illustrating 10 different characters from the Peanuts comic strip.

The first entry received in this category was “Me? It should not come as a surprise that I collect Sand Dune countries.” That line was from David Epps of Portland, Ore.

Politics was the focus for some of the entries, predictable in this post-election period. Also predictable is the fact that almost all such entries, ranging from critical of one candidate or the other to more vile comments, were not printable.

One usable entry was representative of this political group. It came from Rich Wolf of Westminster, Md., who captioned the image with, “Minutes after Trump picks him for the newly created Secretary of Hygiene.”

Our winner in the nonphilatelic category is shown in the box above. The humorous line is from Mildred Barylski, from Warrenton, Va.

For the philatelic side of the contest, Warren Rooney from Bakersfield, Calif., took top honors with, “I’ll still be dirty, no matter how long you soak me!”

Both winners will receive a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

The best of the remaining entries include:

“Please mail me to Bath, England. I need one,” by Arthur Patrick, from Apopka, Fla.

“I’m graded F/VF, despite the surface dirt,” from Peter Karpoff, of Anacortes, Wash.

“I’ve been rummaging around in the Dead Letter Office again,” sent by Ken Gilbert, of Columbus, Ohio.

“I collect stamps about water conservation. And I actively practice and promote water conservation!” from Harold Forbes of Castleton, Vt.

“Neither rain, snow, nor dust storm will stop me from delivering the U.S. Mail!” by John Berrera of Concord, N.C.

“I may look dusty and dirty, but my stamp collection is pristine,” sent by Walter Bauer from Columbus, Ohio.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all those who entered. The next contest will be announced in the Feb. 10 issue of Linn’s Stamp News.

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