On July 16, 2010 the U.S. Postal Service celebrated five iconic American newspaper comic strips with their dedication of the Sunday Funnies postage stamps. The 44-cent first-class commemorative stamps honor Archie , Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace , Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes.
Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip History
According to Don Markstein's Toonopedia.com, Calvin and Hobbes made its first appearance on Nov. 18, 1985, and garnered immediate success. The comic strip, created by Bill Watterson, was extremely popular with comic strip readers. Calvin is a hyperactive and overly imaginative 6-year-old who travels through the fantasy portion of his life with a stuffed tiger named Hobbes. Hobbes, when observed by anyone other than Calvin, is a plush toy, but to Calvin he is a living playmate.
Watterson ended his popular comic strip in 1996, but it can still be found in syndication in many newspapers.
USPS Calvin and Hobbes Stamp
The Calvin and Hobbes Sunday Funnies stamp features Calvin and his tiger Hobbes making ridiculous faces - a rather common and iconic occurrence in the strip. USPS Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland selected the Calvin and Hobbes image that appears on the stamp.
U.S. Postal Service Eastern Area Vice President Megan Brennan dedicated the Sunday Funnies stamps at The Ohio State University, home of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. Joining the dedication were OSU Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph Alutto and OSU Libraries Director Carol Pitts Diedrichs. Also in attendance as special guests were various creators, artists, and writers from the honored comic strips. These guests included Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, Garfield creator Jim Davis, Dennis the Menace artists Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand, Archie Comics newspaper strip writer Craig Goldman, and Calvin and Hobbes Editor Lee Salem.
Ordering Calvin and Hobbes First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
The USPS offers first-day-of-issue postmarks on Calvin and Hobbes stamps. According to the USPS, customers have 60 days after the stamps go on sale to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. Customers should purchase stamps at any local Post Office, at The Postal Store website, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. Once acquired, the U.S. Postal Service instructs that stamps should be affixed to an envelope of the customer's choice and the envelope should then be addressed to the customer or another party. The envelope (or envelopes) should then be placed in a large envelope and mailed to:
- Sunday Funnies Stamp
- 850 Twin Rivers Drive, Retail - Rm. 416
- Columbus, OH 43216-9653
First-day-of-issue postmarks are a free service offered by the USPS. The U.S. Postal Service will apply the first-day-of-issue postmark and then return the envelopes through the mail. All orders must be postmarked by Sept. 17, 2010.
Ordering Calvin and Hobbes First-Day Covers
The Stamp Fulfillment Services department of the USPS is offering first-day covers of the Calvin and Hobbes Sunday Funnies stamp postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. The Calvin and Hobbes first-day cover can be found in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
- Information Fulfillment
- Dept. #6270
- U.S. Postal Service
- PO Box 219014
- Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Complete Calvin and Hobbes Collection of Philatelic Products
Calvin and Hobbes online philatelic products are available from the USPS website:
- First-Day Cover Set of 5, $4.10
- Digital Color Postmark Set of 5, $7.50
- Uncut Press Sheet, $79.20
- Ceremony Program, $6.95
- Cancellation Keepsake (Pane of 20 & Digital Color Postmark Set of 5), $16.95.
