February cartoon caption contest inspired by famous fable

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

One of my favorite stories among the Aesop’s fables introduced to me in first grade is the one about the tortoise and the hare. Even then, I took away from it the intended life lesson. To this day, I cast myself in the role of the tortoise, though I, like the rabbit, do enjoy a good nap.

Nine countries (Cyprus, Dahomey, Dominica, France, Greece, Hungary, the Maldives, Monaco and Sri Lanka) have found ways to include this fable in designs on their postage stamps. Quite a diverse lot.

The closest the United States has come is the Pet forever issue of 2016 (Scott 5106-5125), which pictures 20 different animals, among which are a tortoise (5113) and a rabbit (5112). The stamp for the rabbit, seen here in the box shown above, will be the image for our cartoon caption contest for February.

Yes, I realize that while hares and rabbits are often conflated because they have similarities, hares and rabbits are distinct animals. The problem is that I can’t find any hares on U.S. stamps, so the 2016 rabbit stamp will have to suffice.

I’m inviting Linn’s readers to put on the rabbit ears and come up with something the hare in this fable might be thinking or saying at the start, during, or at the end of the race.

Subject matter can be the race itself, or any parallel you might like to create from the worlds of stamp collecting, politics, sports, or any other subject you like.

The best of the entries, one related to philately and one nonphilatelic, will be announced in this column. For each of the two winners, the prize will be a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

To enter, write your caption (or captions) on a postcard and send it to me, John Hotchner, Linn’s Cartoon Contest, Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, or by email at jmhstamp@verizon.net. If you enter, it is essential that you include both an email and postal mailing address. Entries must reach me no later than Feb. 21.

Why not enter now while you’re thinking about it?

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